The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1941-01-04
But Lenthy Debote Expected
Before Issue is Clarified
Reossvslt's Annvel Message
Expected 70 Set OF Discussion

WASHINGTON. Jan. A.
R-Ultimate approval OF Pres
ident Roosevelt's lease-lend plan
for aiding the British was pre-
dicted by Democratic leaders OF
Congress today. but they con-
ceded that il would have to
stand the test Of lengthy de-
bate" -.
Providing for the lease and
loan Of war equipment Of Brit.
ain, with repayment In kind or
in raw materials such - rub
Der upon conclusion Of hostili.
ties, the proposal already has
become the foremost issue Of the
day-old 77th Congress and
critics Of administration foreign
policy asserted that It would
be stoutly opposed.
Among these, Senator Wheel
er (D-Mont.) announced he
would devote almost his entire
time" to fighting the plan. Sen
ators LaFollette (Prog-Wis.) and
Nye (R-N.E.) expressed opposi-
ton to giving the president wide
authority to effect this type Of
assistance to Britain and admin
istration chieftains. on the other
hand, expressed confidence in
eventual acceptance of the pro-
posal by Congress.
A closer drawing Of the lines
of the controversy appeared,
however, to await Mr.. Roose-
velt's presentation Of his annual
message on Monday and the In
PRODUCTION Of legislation en-
bodying the plan.
The chief executive planned to
work on the message over the
weekend. Indications were that
it would deal chiefly with the
paramount problems Of foreign
policy, including pressing ques-
tons of aid to Britain. In the
same vein as his defense broad
cast Of last Sunday night.
Mr.. Roosevelt already has
said that legislation to carry out
the lease-Iend plan would have
to be fairly general In its pro-
visions since all the things to be
done could not be anticipated In
writing the law. To this, Senator
Majority Leader Barley added
that the president would ask for
broad and unlimited powers TO
make the plan effective.
Following initial organization
sessions yesterday both House
and Senate were In recess today.
but meetings 6f nemocfatic md
Republican senators were called
for the purpose Of perfecting the
Senate's party machinery.
Other considerations than
those Of foreign policy were be-
ginning to take shape.
II was authoritatively fore
cast that within 10 days the army
would ask Congress for approx
imately "a, 000. 100000 more to
expand and speed up the arma-
ment program. Among the funds
to be asked, 1t was indicated,
will be some for eQuipping and
garrisoning Atlantic bases being
developed on sites acquired
from the British,
The $4,000, 900, 900 figure rep
resented an upward revision Of
81, 900, 900. 900 In the, army'i
estimates of it, needs Tor addi-
tional money a. unofficially re
ported q few days ago. The new
funds, IL and when granted, will
20 for assembling $500 bomb
ers annually from parts manu-
featured chiefly In automobile
factories and for various other
purposes, including new muni-
lions plants and so-called "criti.
cal" equipment to round out
supplies for . force Of 1000, 900
men.
The question Of how the
heavy defense expenditures are
to be met was being much dis
cussed. Barley said that tax
increases, expected to be sought