Evening star., 1941-01-01
President Tolls
On Message
To.Congress
May Elaborate
On Defense Talk;
Lease Plea Indicated
3, the Associated Press.

B, the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt ignored the
holiday today to put in "the first
real lcks" on his annual message
to CongresS-an address awaited for
a fOlloWup and elaboration of the
policy he outlined Sunday in his
defense talk to the Nation.
1t was believed that Mr. Roosevelt
probably would incorporate in this
message on the state of the Union
some material that time limitations
prevented his using in his Sunday
radio broadcast.
Mr.. Roosevelt himself indicated
yesterday that the message would
include a request to Congress fer
broad authority to lend war supplies
to Britain, with perhaps discre-
tionary authority to negotiate for
repayment both "in kind and in
raw materials or other products.
The Presidents message to Con-
gress-to be delivered Monday-was
the next scheduled major admins
tration pronouncement on the whole
involved question of defense, British
aid and international relations
Meanwhile there was no slackening
in developments in any of these
fields.
Defense May Be Unified.
Further action for speedier arms
production was reported under con-
Sideration. Mr.. Roosevelt was said
to be planning to concentrate in
William S. knudsen all the actual
power of the newly-created Office of
production management, supreme
command" of defense production.
A tentative draft of an executive
order which Mr.. Roosevelt was said
to be considering would make Mr.
knudSen the administrator of the
program, and give to the other three
members of four-man council only
advisory powers.
When the President announced
his plan recently, he said it would
be carried out through a council
composed of Mr. Knudsen, Secre-
NSAAAN'o ApN44A4-CAI anu lAlioA anu oIO-
ney Hillman, member of the De-
fense Commission in charge of
labor Mr.. Knudsen is the defense
commissioner in charge of produc-
ton.
In Congress, Chairman George of
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee, added bis voice to those
who have registered opposition TO
the idea Of American convoys for
military supplies to Great Britain.
Sees War rs Consequence.
Senator George, an advocate of
all possible peaceful aid to Britain
said conveys would involve this
country in the war. No official sug-
gestions for convoy system have
been made. however.
The No Foreign War Committee,
an organization critical of some ad-
ministration policies, was assailed
yesterday by Senator Lee, Demo-
crat, of Oklahoma, who charged
that its angel was a wealthy oil
merchant with great financial
stake in a Nazi victory.
He named the angel to re-
porters as W R. Davis, New York
oil operator. Verne Marshall, chair
man of the No Foreign War Com
mittee. asserted Monday that Mr..
Davis brought a ''just and honor
able peace proposal from high
Nazi leaders to the administration
in October. 1899. but was rebuffed.
Mr.. Roosevelt was asked about
these reported peace overtures at
his press conference yesterday, and
he replied that he had nothing to
add to the State Department COM
ment. That departments answer
to Mr.. Marshall's story was that no
feasible" peace proposals had been
submitted to this Government.
Marshall Issues Statement.
Mr.. Marshall, in New York. called
on the President and State Depart
ment last night to make public the
peace plan he said Mr.. Davis had
brought. He described it as the
"agenda" for sound, just and hon.
orable economic peace"
Mr.. Davis issued a statement in
New York indorsing the purposes of
the No Foreign War Committee and
expressing confidence that when,
in the opinion of the present admin
lstration, the best interests of the
country can be served by making
public the information which l have
from time to time delivered to it,
it will be made public
In charging that Mr.. Davis has
great financial stake" in Nazi vic
tory, Senator Lee saiG:
Much of the gasoline sending
showers of fiery death into the de-
fenseless heart of London was sold
to the German government by this
man Davis in the months before the
war started, but his traffic in this
German-bound oil happily has been
(see DEFENSE, Page A-3D