Evening star., 1941-10-28

'CO0Jlnu6O from f1ISL PdRe.)
will best serve the interests of
America, while supporters believe an
affirmative policy is safer.
Cites 1889 Vote on Planes.
In March, 1899, Senator Pepper
said, a bill to increase Americas
air force to 5000 planes was voted
against by Senators Vandenberg of
Michigan, Nye of North Dakota,
Wheeler, johnson of California "and
others who will be pronounced op-
ponents of this measure"
In 1898, he asserted, Senators
Vandenberg. Nye and johnson were
among those recorded against the
first bill to increase the size of the
Navy.
Il assume that in 1888 nobody was
urging that our Navy be sent any
where but in American waters"
Senator Pepper observed.
He next recalled that in the spring
of 1899, before the war had started,
Congress failed to act on recon-
mendation from President Roosevelt
for repeal of the arms embargo,
which it later repealed in Novem-
ber, after the war had begun.
Il shall believe to the last days of
my life" Senator Pepper said, that
those who defeated that measure
tthe first proposal to lift the en-
bargo) gave Hitler the assurance he
wanted to start his soldiers march
Ing across Europe"
Lucas Offers Question.
Senator Lucas, Democrat, of Hi
nois interrupted to inquire what po-
sition this country would have been
in when the war started if Con-
gress had followed those who voted
against earlier defense measures
Nothing but a weakness SO tragic
1t might have affected the future of
the United States as a free coun-
try" Senator Pepper replied
Let our friends of the opposition
remember that Hitler started this,
second World War during the in
term between the time the President
asked for embargo repeal in the
spring and its repeal in November"
Senator Pepper continued.
Senator Lucas suggested that if
England had fallen after the battle
of Dunkeruue the United States
would have been at war.
Senator Pepper said that would
have depended only on two things:
First. whether Hitler wanted to wait
a little while, or on whether the
United States was willing to yield to
him.
The Florida Senator said he was
willing TO take Hitler's word for one
thing, when he said two worlds are
in conflict and one must fall
ssunder."
Voted Against Bill.
Senator Pepper recalled the lease
lend bill passed the Senate last
March by a vote of go to 81. He
mentioned as among those voting
against that measure Senators Taft,
Vandenberg, Nye and Johnson, all
of whom are opposing the armed
ship bill.
SeiidtO 1dlI interrupted 10 say
that when the lease-lend bill was
before the Senate he had offered as
a substitute a proposal to make an
outright loan of s2,000,OOO,OO0 to
Great Britain. The Ohio Senator
declared that if his proposal had
been adopted instead of the lease
lend bill, Britain would have had
more aid and more effective aid
than she has had under the present
bureaucratic methods" of admins
tering the Lease-Lend Act.
Well Senator Pepper replied,
IF the Senator from Ohio gets any
satisfaction out of being a 'yes-but'
Senator, all we'll and good" This
brought laugh from the galleries.
Senator Taft thrust back:
"A 'yes-but' Senator is the only
kind OF Senator who is any good. A
'yes-yes' Senator is of no value
whatever.
This time the laughter was turned
against Senator Pepper, who has
been an ardent supporter Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt at all times.