Evening star., 1941-03-04
Lend-Lease Bill
AssaiIed by Wheeler
As Open Door 10 War
Senator in Forum Talk
Pictures Measure as
Making President Supreme

Nl0NthS tiSSiNSHA So oPiSthS
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of
Montana, strong opponent of the
lease-lend bill now being debated in
the Senate, spoke on the measure in
an address last night in the National
Radio Forum, arranged by The Star.
The talk was broadcast over ma
tional hookup Of the National
Broadcasting Co. and was heard
locally over Station WMAL.
The text Of the speech follows:
Tonight, we are confronted with
momentous issues which differ very
little from those which faced the
Congress during the crucial weeks
preceding our involvement In the
first World War.
The grave dangers Of bill II. r.
1776 have become Increasingly ap-
parent. Lurking and ir-concealed
threats upon democratic processes
have been exposed. A war bill Is be-
ing recognized as such and today
the people challenge us to tell them
whether the forgotten man Of 1882
is destined to be the unknown SOL
dier of 1912.
Pleas Pour on Washington.
The workers, farmers and mothers
of America do not own newspapers
or radio networks or motion picture
plants with which to saturate the
country with propaganda. They are
no match for the chauvinistic junk
ers that control most Of these means
of mass communication. But their
pitifuI pleas scrawled on post cards
and scraps of paper have poured
into the offices of Senators and Con-
gressmen by the thousands from
every State in the Union. Mothers
of America have come to Washing
ton in droves to voice their protests
only to be roughly handled or to be
investigated by our F. B. I.
Every one who dares to speak up
against war is to be intimidated.
Those who eSpouse war are enter
tained royalty in Washington. But
do not be afraid. Keep up your
work. Your protests have not been
In vain. From them-the advocates
of peace have gained new strength,
vigor and courage.
During the progress of the debates
and the reluctant recognition t~
some members If Congress that this
bill entails abdication of their con-
stitutional responsibilities, the ranks
of the opposition grow. Today mil
lions and millions of our people
are awakening to the fact that the
lend-lease-g give bill is not for our
deferse. Naturally they had not
dreamed that a measure would be
introduced at the request of the
administration which would dele
gate to the President the right to
decide for 13OO00000 people the
Issue of peace and war. The people
little realized the magnitude of the
powers vested in one man by this
bill
This bill has a disarming catch
word for a title. The title is "An
act to further promote the defense
of the United States and for other
purposes" The word defense" is
repeated over and over again, as if
repetition could make truth from
fiction. Actually, as I shall show
you, the bill has nothing to do with
defense of the United States except
In a very far-fetched sense. It Is
for the defense of foreign nations.
At the same time, it authorizes the
President to plunge this country of
yours and mine-Stripped of weap-
ons-into a war without further
consulting the Congress or the
people The only part of the title
which fairly reflects what is found
In the bill is the phrase "for other
purposes"
The title is a deliberate misnomer
"a brain child of an unknown but
Warllke author. 1t Is brazen at
tempt to exploit the unanimous
desire of our people for an adequate
national defense. In this respect
the bill is like bottle with a false
label. You should examine its con-
tents carefully before you swallow
1t, lest it be poison.
This bill authorizes the President
TO lend, lease or give to any nation
defense articles" What is the
meaning of defense articles?
Under the bill its definition has
neither bounds nor limits. BY the
provisions of this bill, defense
articles" include any and all arti-
cles-everything from battleships to
bath powders, from bombers to the
billions Of gold buried in the hills
of Kentucky, from cannon to Will
kie buttons. They include raw ma
terials, manufactured products and
agricultural products. They include
crutches and coffins and crosses for
the countless future victime of our
folly If we blunder into war.
Over all defense articles the
President is supreme. He can
transfer or give our every defense
weapon to any nation. You have
been led to believe that the gifts
would be to Great Britain, Greece,
and China-but the bill does not
say sc-and the administration has
expressed opposition TO any amend
ment that would limit benefits to
England, to Greece and to China.
1t is fair to say that the bill over
looks no country-lest it be the
United States.
Means Opening for War.
BY leasing-lending or giving our
ships, our munitions, the products
Of our fields, forests and mines to
one South American nation for Use
against another, the President could
plunge us into the never-ending
sqIabbles of South America. This
bill will make of the President a
mighty figure in international
powe~ politics. But what will it
bring to the people of this country?
The answer is war. Some of INV
friends in the Senate have said
that my fears are ridiculous and
absurd, that I am a false prophet
when say Mr.. Roosevelt can and
will likely take us into war if this
bill passes. I hope and pray to
God that may prove to be a false
prophet. But what of Jesse Jones'
and Secretary Ickes who have said