Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-01

5 abouf you!
making powers. I suspect, how.
ever, that the President will moi
let them get very far out of hi,
own hands, or at least out OF thu
hands of those whose actions ant
very thoughts he can control.
In any event, to avoid compli
eating this analysis, shall proceed
on the assumption that the Presi
dent will maintain a direct anC
tight hold on the reins and that ht
will not permit much leeway ever
to his rowing ambassadors-at-largt
to make deals with other govern.
ments for defense articles.
An exception might be made ir
the case of Wild Bill Donovan in
recognition of his recent diplo.
matte triumphs against the Nazi.
in Bulgaria, Turkey and Yugo-
slavia and his success in recover.
ing his passport and his secret
notes and reports from the custody
of foreign photostaters.
And perhaps another exception
is justified in the case of Mr.
Earle, our minister to Bulgaria
for his tactful conduct in the cafes
of Sofia.
The vast powers to be exercised
by the President under subsection
(a) are for the benefit Of:
Tho government of any
country whose defense the Presi-
dent deems vital to the defense
of tho United States"
AID FOR ANYBODY
The record of the testimony
heard by the House and Senate
committees, and the record Of the
debates in both House and Senate,
are repiete with statements and
assumptions that Great Britain,
Greece and China are the in
tended beneficiaries. But the bill
does not say this, and the pro-
ponents refuse to correct it so as
to make it correspond with what
they tell us and tell the public.
Actually, no country is over
looked by the bill, with one ex-
ception-the United States itself.
The powers conferred by subsec-
ton TAI, vast as they are, extend
to manufacturing or otherwise
procuring defense articles for
everybody except Uncle Sam.
The unknown authors, working
feverishly to meet the 90-day
threat of crisis which has been
dangled before US ever since the
week after the votes were counted
in November. but which always
begins on the morrow that never
comes, may be forgiven for the
oversight. 1t is a telling revelation
OF the inner workings of their
minds.
NOTHING FOR U. 8.
At the very time they are tell
ing us that Britain is in immi.
nent danger of being conquered
and overrun, and that II Britain
falls Hitler will attack us in &c
days either directly or by detour.
ing via Africa and South America
at the very time they are pro-
claiming in the press and by radio
and In the movies that we should
be panic stricken because of the
danger, they do not ask for cor.
respondingly broad powers to pro-
cure defense articles for the
United States.
OF course, they do not. They
do not really believe in the dire
prophecies they make as to oul
danger. These prophecies are fol-
public consumption to get support
for the bill and to get US psyche.
logically prepared for war.
This bill is not for the defense
of the United States. That is
apparent on its face. It was no,
drafted by any one who is afraid
that Hitler will attack the United
States in 80 days or at any other
time.
It was drafted by persons who
regardless of cost in lives, iibert,
or dollars, want desperately te
help Great Britain and inspect.
fed other nations. This may OF
may not be all right. But it is
not all right to delude the public
into thinking that it is for the
defense of the United States.
WILKES SUGGESTION
Why is it that the very milo
suggestion, made with trepidatior
and humility by some members oil
the legislative branch of our gov.
eminent that we specify the
countries to be aided. is rejected ?
What Is wrong with just mention.
ing Great Britain. Greece anc
China? Even Mr.. Willkie, the
intrepid Trojan horse of the Re.
publican Party, advocated doing
this.
Incidentally, IL 1 were Mr.
Churchill. would not place toe
much faith in Mr.. WILKES pres.
ent ardent advocacy of all out tc
Britain. This may prove to be
just early campaign oratory look.
ing toward the Democratic nomi.
ntaion In 1914.