Evening star., 1941-02-18
BY the Associated Press.


FolloWinq is the tert OF a re-
port OF the minority of the Sen
ate Foreign Relations Committee
opposing the administrators
BritiSh-aid bill
The extreme legislation contem-
plated by the pending bill has no
real justification either in law or in
fact. BY its title the measure pur-
ports to promote the national de-
fense of the United States. but there
is not a single provision in the bill
which deals with our defenseS. The
witnesses who appeared as pro pom
ents of the measure pretend that the
legislation is necessary to aid Great
Britain. but the proof showed that
Great Britain is already being aided
to the extent our resources permit
ted. and that his aid was likely to
continue. The hearings upon the
bill were unique. They consisted
in one week of listening to four cab
met officers and one immaterial
witness, a week of witnesses in re-
sponse. and then one-man circus
intended to influence our citizens.
After staging this circus the ad-
ministration closed its case. This
report will be written without regard
to the show put on by the admins
tration, but with sincere desire
to enlighten the members of the
Senate as to some of the phases of
the discussion.
Actually the majority report Is
based upon the theory that Great
Britain is fighting our war. 1t
even goes the length to assert that
THE United States must, in its
own interests, supply effective ma
terial aid to those countries, whose
defenses is vital to our defense" ,"
Says History Challenges
Statement of Majority.
The maj iority assert that this
premise has always been part of
our policy. History, recent history.
too. challenges this statement AS
sentient human beings we need
not elaborate our refutation of this
statement. It is simply not the
fact. To say that our country at
peace, with no overt attack thus
far committed against us in war
that is fiercely contested. in our
aloofreSs from a declaration of
that war, in no sense properly being
a participant therein, has some
other nation providing defense for
us is simply ridiculous.
What is this bill? 1t is a pure
grant of power to the President to
do as he pleases with any foreign
nation, for any purpose, and on
available to any nation or nations.
any part, or the whole, of the mill
tary or naval powers of the United
States. 1t Is a complete negation
of the policy that has been ours in
the past and an invitation to the
President to take hand in the
game of power politics in every far
flung region of the earth. 1t would |
authorize him to say what nations !
shall receive, and for any reason |
at all to open to them our military
and naval equipment. and our re-
sources, and it is perfectly obvious
that once commitments have been |
made, our men will have to guaran-
tee the favored nation and under
write the war
Let us look at the laws We have |
recently passed in respect to situa-
tions such as that confronting us |
here. Let us examine the policy |
then declared by the President to
be the policy of the United States,
and in the light of all of the ex-
periences of the past and all that
can be seen Of the future. Let us
see if we can determine the course
that should now be followed.
Traces History of Path
OF Neutrality Legislation.
Only year and half ago the
chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations reported to the
Senate bill-''To preserve the neu-
trality and peace of the United
States and to safeguard the safety
of its citizens and their interests"
At that time the so-called Neu-
rtality Act was submitted to the
Congress as result of the Presi-
dents recommendation and advice.
In his message September 81. 1899,
the President told US he was voicing
his deep and unalterable conviction
based on years of experience as a
worker in the field of international
peace"
He submitted a four point pro-
gram involving national and inter-
national law, as he put it. He told
us-"that American vessels should
be restricted from entering danger
zones; that American citizens should
be restricted from travelling on bel
Igerent vessels or in danger areas"
He told us his third objective
Required foreign powers to make
transfer of title in this country of
its purchase by belligerents, re-
luirement which can be attained
by legislation, and substantially
achieved by proclamation"
Objective to Prevent
War Credits Is Cited.
The fourth objective-"To prevent
war credits to belligerents = -. The
result of these last two will be to re-
quire purchases to be made in cash
and cargoes to be carried in the
purchasers own ships, at the pur-
chasers' own risk y To those
who say that this program would
involve step toward war on our
part, we reply that it offers far
0roofor cofoO11ordc tIop MO ,,auy
possess or have ever possessed to
protect American lives and property
from danger 1t is a positive pro-
gram for safety. This means less
likelihood of incidents, and contro-
versies which tend to draw us into
conflict as they did in the last war.
There lies the road to peace"
Again, he said: The position of
the executive branch of the Gov
N1l