Evening star., 1941-01-21
BY ]. A. OIEARY.

A small Congressional committee
to cooperate with President Roose-
welt in deciding on aid to Great
Britain under the lease Lend bill
was suggested to the House Foreign
Affairs Committee today by Joseph
P. Kennedy as one way Of obtaining
centralized authority and at the
same time preserving the legisla-
tive function.
The retiring American AmbasSa-
dor to England also testified before
a packed committee room that he
would have no objection to amend
ing the bill along the following
lines.
l. To make il certain that Ameri-
can vessels would not be used to
convoy supplies.
2. To place a time limit on the
life of the bill.
3. To limit the amount of the
program.
Mr.. Kennedy was not so sure
about the necessity for another
amendment suggested by the oppo-
sltlon 10 prohibit the repair of for
elgn vessels in American ports.
Gov. Harold E. Stassen OF
Minnesota earlier in the day had
proposed creation of a supreme
defense council composed Of
President Roosevelt and congress
slonal leaders Of both parties to
exercise the great powers and
authority" under the lease-lend
bill. He told the Council Of
State Governments such group
could rapidly and effectively
decide" any questions arising
under the aid-to-Britain pro.
gram.
Asked About Suggestion.
Later. when Representative Shan
ley. Democrat. of Connecticut said
he was wondering how Congress in
complex and changing situation
could delegate authority to a COM
mittee,' Mr.. Kennedy said he did
not know that he had said a COM
mittee exactly. but was trying TO
make the point that Congress
should not give UP its authority.
DO you believe that anything We
do that aids England strengthens
England?" asked Mr.. Shanley.
AT the minute, yes" answered
Mr.. Kennedy explaining that his
position is to try to keep this coun-
try out of the war. "and I am trying
to flt the rest around that"
Il am perfectly willing TO take
some risk Mr.. Kennedy explained,
but until I see a crisis more i'm
minent than this, l. as citizen, do
not want to see Congress entirely
out OF the picture"
Il am for authority that will per-
nit things to be done Mr.. Kennedy
declared. But l want TO see the
Congress that has just been elected
by the people have hand in it."
"All Rests on England"
Representative Rogers. Repub-
liCan, of Massachusetts, asked il
it would be we'll to let Congress act
separately from time to time on aid
for England, Greece or other ma
tions
II think it all rests on England"
Mr.. Kennedy answered IF Eng
land falls the rest are incidents"
Mr.. Kennedy declared that some
high British officials believed the
United States should go to war with
their nation against Germany, but
that others disagreed with this
view
Those who favored United States
entrance into the war, he said, did
so because they felt that this Ma
ton would find way to carry 1t
through Officials opposed to the
idea. he said. believed that it would
cut down the flow of war materials
to Britain.
Mr. Kennedy's final statement be-
fore the noon recess was:
IF Congress accepts this bill. I
will be with it Fundamentally"
First Opposition Witness.
Called by lease-lend bill oppo-
nents as their first witness. Mr.
Kennedy made it clear he favors
aid to England provided 1t does not
make our entry into the war in
evitable.
What would make war inev-
itable?" asked Representative Tink-
ham. Republican, of Massachusetts.
Il think sending our Navy over to
fight for them-or sending convoys
and having them blown up" Mr..
Kennedy replied. In other words,
anything that would cause the
American people to feel they had to
go to war to protect themselves"
The Ambassador drew the largest
crowd that has attended the hear
ings to date. Members of the House