The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-09
Coast Guard Cutters
 Released To Britain
tContlnued from Page D

Early said he was not certain but &hat the transfer apparently was made under sections of the lend- 1&ase law which authorize the pres. senk to transfer up to 9l 300, 900 900 worth of existing American defense HAockA. xIe said the valuation un- sioubtedly will be fixed for the cute tekB, and that the figure will be enc 4ezed on the general books and rec. ards which are being maintained of Shipments of war materials to Brit ain and other Democracies. Early said that the cutters have not been turned over to the British, indicat- ing that ttye now are being fitted out with seagoing equipment In preparation for their transfer to the Royal Navy.
 Announcement of the coast guard ship transfer coincided with fore casts that Q number of American cargo vessels may be turned over 70 i khe British.
 The cutter transaction and the Impending transfer of nerchant tonnage bolstered evidence which appeared to be against an early ad- mlinistration decision to send Amer 1 Iacan cargo ships or naval vessels into the British convoy system.
 Wor6 that methods short-of. convoy" were under study to meet l the submarine menace to the Brit- ash lifeline has been passing around Washington for some time. Congressional leaders are contdent they can defeat arlti-convoy legis' aslation.
 Early transfer of & number oi American cargo ships to the British was favored as one basis of the dis closure by President Roosevelt that ne plans to take over and operate the 30 anish merchant ships seized an American ports.
 MT. Roosevelt will ask Congress tomorrow for legislation authorizing the government to acquire the Dan- ash vessels by purchase. Govern ment legal experts say the legisla- ton will, in effect, authorize "tech- xical requlsitiondng" of the ships The Danish minister has acquiesced
 The President made 1t clear that the possibility of confi9cating the seized German and Italian ships has not been abandoned, pointing out that he has ample authority under the forfeiture provisions of the World War espinoage act to do so.
 But the most controversial dis eussion here, and the one certain to raise the most furore when Con- gress returns next week, was about conveys
 T0bey Fires Shot
 I Sen. Charles W. Tobey, R., N. H., an @ radio talk last night, said "the Aame has come to stop the plan of conveys in It's tracks" He said q tragedy is being enacted on the American stage and that "the war clouds are on the way"
 Tobey Is author of 0 Senate res- lOMtion to forbid the use of the American flag in the British con- voy. He charged that Secretary of Ffaavy Prank Krox had prescribed such convoy as "an act of war; in testimony before a house commit. | tee tut later had been represented ! i'm hiB own newspaper, the Chicago Daily News, as an advocate Of United States escorts for vessels bound for Great Britain.
 Sen. Burton K. Wheeler, D., Mont, and congressional isolation. igts in general are organizing behind the Tobey resolution. Wheeler is half way across the continent now on an anti-war stumping tour
 Washington statesmen and diplo- mats were studying most intently today last nights radio talk by Chairman Emory s. Land of the maritime commission. Land Is 0 retired rear admiral The capital grape vine had reported that he would endorse the use of American flag ships in the British convoy service.
 Sub Menace Is Bonfire
 Land, instead. likened the subma- sine menace to 0 bonfire.
 'iIf we base our shipping aid to Britain solely on supplying her with more and more and more ships," he said, i've are merely adding more fuel to the fire. Are there not @ number of ways of solving this prob- lem by attempting to put out the Ire? We might well ask ourselves