Evening star., 1941-05-25
US. Must Convoy Now
Or Go 10 War Later,
Senator Guffey Says
President Already Hos
Power to Use Ships,
One Group Contends
By GOULD LINCOLN.

BY GOULD LINCOLN.
"We face the alternative Of con-
voying now-or fighting later" Sem
ator Guffey, Democrat, of Pennsyl-
vania declared in a radio address
last night.
Il say convoy now" the Pennsyl-
vanian, a close follower of the
Roosevelt administration, added.
The issue Of conveying American
made supplies to Britain has re-
fused to be downed. There is strong
belief on Capitol Hill that Presi-
dent Roosevelt, when he goes on
the air Tuesday night will deal with
the subject, which has been debat-
ed throughout the country. Two
other subjects with which the Chief
Executive may deal, according TO
several legislators. are the suggest
ed amendment of the Neutrality
Act and the collaboration agreement
between Germany and the Vichy
government in France.
Long Delay Possible.
In the opinion of some congress
sional leaders, the Presidents wiser
course would be to use the powers
he now has to see that supplies are
delivered to Britain, rather than
to throw the question of the use
of conveys, or the repeal of the
Neutrality Act, into Congress. 1so-
lationists and non-interventionists,
1t was said, would debate and delay
action for long time, If either
proposal is submitted in legislative
form. Other members of Congress
insisted the President would not
make use Of conveys without flrst
obtaining approval of the Congress.
In one quarter, the statement was
made that the President already has
an opinion from the Attorney Cen
eral that the Chief Executive has
full power, without any further &C
ton by Congress. to make use OF
American naval conveys. if he deems
it necessary to get goods TO Britain
as a OeleIlSe measure
The question of war materials
from this country arose from an
other quarter yesterday when Sem
ator Gillette, Democrat of Iowa.
said he had received reports that
American companies had supplied
materials to Axis powers in scores
and scores of instances. He urged
a Congressional investigation.
Lee Joins Repeal Backers.
The group advocating repeal of
the neutrality law was joined by
Senator Lee, Democrat. of Okla
homa, who said it was limiting our
efforts" Senator Lee spoke before
the Political Study Club here.
The address by Senator Guffey
in support of conveys, delivered un-
der the auspices of the Committee
to Defend America by Aiding the
Allies, is the second in which he
advocated use of American Naval
vessels, if necessary, to get ma
terials to the British. His first speech
on the subject was delivered recently
in the Senate, In his remarks last
night, however, Senator Guffey
went further than in his earlier re-
marks.
Coming on the heels of statements
by Secretary Of War Stimson and
Secretary Of the Navy Knox in
favor of the repeal of the Neutrality
Act and a return to insistence by
this country on the old doctrine
Of the freedom of the seas, the
Guffey speech was regarded last
night as particularly significant.
Conveys Called Necessary Step.
When we undertook the Job of
helping Britain to stop Hitler, We
undertook TO see it through Mr..
Guffey said We realized the de-
mands upon us would be heavy We
realized they would call for sac
rifice. And We realized we would
have TO take whatever steps were
necessary. We have now reached
the point where another step is
necessary That step he said was
tAlc use Va SOllNONS.
We have started a steady and
ever-lncreasing stream of arma-
ments across the Atlantic" he con-
tinued. And We know now, bitterly
distasteful as the fact may be, that
the arms we create with so much
labor are not reaching Britain. Some
get through. But far too great a
portion never does. 1t goes down
at sea, to appease the voracious ap-
petites of Adolf Hitler's raiders.
his submarines, his dive bombers,
his armored cruisers. In the face
of that fact, we can no longer de-
ceive ourselves. We are not giving
aid to Britain in full measure. We
are merely saying Get 1t if you
can when we know we are asking
an impossibnity.
we can avoid eventual war with
triumphant, world-conquering
Hitler in one way. and one way
only, by giving Britain weapons to
destroy him"
Senator Guffey said the United
States would have to decide whether
to forgo proper aid to Britain now
and fight Hitler after he has
strengthened himself by the defeat
of the English, or to give that aid
and risk fighting him now. He
added that nothing this country
does will make Hitler fight him
until he is ready to fight, and that
nothing this country fails to do will
prevent his fighting the United
States. He said that the isolation
ists' are afraid of offending Hitler.
Americas Rights" Stressed.
THE offending of Hitler is no
justification for the abdication of
our rights" said Mr. Guffey. The
simple answer is that we have
already given Hitler sufficient rea-
son for annoyance. If he has not
retaliated it is not for lack of desire