Evening star., 1941-02-18

ments OF those with whom they dis
agree.
IF this bill is passed" he said,
this may be among the last of the
opportunities that We shay have to
exercise that right"
Senator Clark said he spoke with
authority" in assuring the Senate
that opponents had no desire to
unduly prolong the debate" and
referred to the brief few days" the
discussion would occupy the cham
ber.
Proceeding then to "denounce and
oppose" the bill, Senator Clark
noted that its title claimed the
measure would promote the de-
fense of the United States"
It would do nothing Of the kind,
he contended.
Objections Outlined.
1T is in fact" he declared, "a bill
to authorize the denuding of Amer
iCan defenses: to authorize the sus-
pension of any American law in
consistent with the dictatorial powers
conferred in the act; to authorize
the arming and feeding and supply
ing of any country in the world at
the expense of American taxpayers
in the sole discretion OF the Pres
ident of the United States; to au-
thoriZe the making of foreign
alliances without the concurrence of
the Senate as required by the Con-
stitution of the United States; to
authorize the underwriting of the
cost of maintaining the British en-
pire around the world at the expense
of the taxpayers of America: to
bring the war to our very doors by
affording access to our navy yard
and ship yard facilities for the war
ships Of belligerent nations: to
abandon the Monroe Doctrine by
the abandonment of its vital prin-
ciple Of not participating in Eu-
ropes wars"
The Missouri Senator also spoke
of the bill as "an abdication by
Congress of its functions and
responsibilities in manner not con-
templated by the Constitution.
He said he hoped Great Britain
could repel ANY and all onslaughts
OF the unspeakable Hitler"
Lauds British Heroism.
Much as I admire the heroism
OF the British defense of their own
islands," he added, and 1 may say
that I have always believed that
the British would be exceedingly
tough on their own grounds where
they have so seldom had to fight,
l am entirely unwilling to commit
this country to defense of the
British Empire around the world.
L am utterly unwilling to turn
over to them articles which We
might vitally need for our own de-
tense. 1 cannot agree that the
American people should be called
upon to underWrite the expenses of
the defense of the British Empire
from Hong Kong to Labrador.
L am unwilling that American
taxpayers, already hard pressed,
should be called upon to make sac
rlf1ces by the adoption of measures
which Canada and New Zealand
and Australia have not been called
upon to enact"
Powers Akin to Daladier's Seen.
Meanwhile Senator Wheeler, DEM
ocrat, Of Montana charged that the
British-aid bill would confer on
President Roosevelt powers akin to
those which, he said. enabled Pre-
mler Daladier to take France into
war without regard for constitu-
tional restrictions
Attacking the legislation anew, the
Montanan asserted in a statement
that if the Nation wants to help
Britain. Congress should vote So
000000,000 or S5,0O0,OO0. 600" in cash.
The lease-lend camp presented the
first of its arguments in the Senate
yesterday, when Senators Barkley,
Democrat, of Kentucky; Austin,
Republican of Vermont: Pepper,
Democrat, of Florida, and Thomas,
Democrat, of Utah, took the floor to
plead for enactment of the measure
as vital to national security.
Senator Pepper told the chamber