Evening star., 1941-03-10

President Roosevelt expects to ask
Congress by the middle of this week
for appropriations and contract au-
thority to carry out provisions of the
lease-lend bill, Senate Majority
Leader Barkley said after a White
House conference today.
Senator Barkley declined to esti-
mate the amounts that would be
asked. He said ne could say that
the request would be made by the
middle of the week, assuming the
House gives final approval to the
lease-lend measure tomorrow.
The Senate leader, Vice President
Wallace and Speaker Rayburn con-
ferred on legislative procedure with
Mr.. Roosevelt for nearly two hours
this morning.
Later Speaker Rayburn obtained
unanimous consent for the House to
act tomorrow on the Senate amend
mentS. On the motion of Repre-
sentative Cooper, Democrat, of
Tennessee, it was agreed that vote
would be taken after two hours of
debate on the amendments
Representative Martin, the Re-
publican leader. announced from
the floor this procedure was agree
able TO him since each amendment
in my judgment helps the bill"
Signing by Wednesday Seen.
House action is expected to speed
the measure to the White House for
the Presidents signature. probably
on Wednesday, thereby clearing the
way for starting within a few days
a vast supply of war materials
across the Atlantic TO Britain's aid.
Only House approval of relatively
minor amendments inserted by the
Senate before it passed the legisls-
ton, so to 81, Saturday night Is
needed to complete congressional
action
Before the congressional leaders
conferred at the White House, Pres
idential Secretary Stephen Early
said that as guess he thought the
bill would be signed sometime
Wednesday, unless we hit a snag not
now foreseen."
He told reporters he thought the
President might issue some an
nouncement on that occasion but
that he did not know what form it
would take.
Asked about the possibility of
fireside chat, Mr.. Early merely re-
lterate0 that he did not know what
form would be used.
Preparatory Steps Taken.
The secretary said the admins
tration was taking preparatory
steps to put the aid program into
operation but that there had been
no division yet of war supplies,
now in arsenals and navy yards.
between that which might 90 to
England and that which would be
retained for Americas armed
forces.
The President, he said, is working
on a table listing current and con-
templated British and American
needs.
The Chief Executive had an ap-
pointment today with Budget Di-
rector Harold Smith, through whom
additional requests for appropria-
tions would have to clear. Secretary
Morgenthau also was on his engage
ment list, as was a group of con-
gressional leaders.
Asked whether the signing of the
bill might be followed by a procla-
nation of total national emerg-
ency, Mr.. Early told reporters:
Il have not heard such a thing
mentioned"
Vandenberg Sees Unity.
Meanwhile, Senator Vandenberg.
Republican, of Michigan, who voted
against final passage of the lease
lend bill, said today he thought it
has been generally overlooked that
national unity on the question of
aiding Great Britain is far stronger
than the final vote of so to 81 in
dicateS.
"A basic value of the lease-lend
bill is psychological" Senator Vand-
enberg declared. Therefore, it is
highly important to note that IS out
of 95 Senators zone seat being va
can't actually voted for heavy aid
to England, either on the Taft sub
stitute or on H. R. 1776, which is a
far more impressive display of
American unity than the final roll
call might disclose.
There are only six members of
(See BRITISH AID, Page A-50