Evening star., 1941-02-03
Debate
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A. P. Wirephoto.

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Why, in order to defend America
by aiding Britain, is it necessary
to clothe the Chief Executive with
unlimited dictatorial powers never
before conferred upon a President
in time of peace?"
When Mr.. Fish concluded his
speech he was loudly applauded,
practically all of the applause COM
ing from the Republican side of the
chamber Mr.. SABBATH asked Mr.
Fish if he, who now favors $4,000
100000 loan to Great Britain, had
not invariably in the past opposed
such a loan.
I'm glad the gentleman asked
that question" replied Mr.. Fish. He
insisted that there would have been
no war started in Europe if there
had not been assurances to England
and France that the arms embargo
in the old Neutrality Act would be
repealed.
II contended," said Mr. Fish,
that repeal of that embargo would
be the first step toward war. The
second step will be found in this bill
and the third step will be entry
into war"
Coffee Denounces Bill.
Representative Coffee, Democrat,
Of Nebraska, denounced the pend
/ ing bill as war measure.
Ironically" he said, this bill has
been numbered l776, In l776 we
declared our independence In this
bill we are declaring our independ-
ence on Great Britain"
/ Mr.. Coffee said the bill destroys
democracy in this country and turns
/ over to the President dictatorial
powers.
Representative Nichols, Demo-
crat, of Oklahoma took up the
cudgels for the bill He ridiculed
suggestion that the President would
abuse powers granted him under
the bill.
Representative Luther Johnson,
/ Democrat, of Texas. a member Of
the House Foreign Affairs Commit
tee, defended the lease-lend bill and
chided the Republicans because
they had been unwilling for long
time to admit the seriousness of the
situation abroad and the possible
danger to the United States.
First Major Speech.
Mrs. Chester Bolton Of Ohio, a
1F
Affairs Committee, in her first ma
jor speech in the House, declared
herself strongly in favor of building
national defense and aid to Britain.
She attacked the pending bill, how
ever, on the ground that it placed
dictatorial powers in the hands of
one man. She defended the right
of Republicans to attack the bill
and declared there was nothing
partisan in her own attitude.
The bill as submitted" she said,
as in its essense confused, at a time
when all measures should be clear
and frank statements of purpose
and intent. If there is delay in this
whole matter of reinforcing Eng
land, it is due largely to the un-
necessary demand for complete
power.
why did not the administration
ask the Congress with clarity and
forthrightness for an appropriation
covering Englands immediate needs?
Why does not the administration
give the country facts instead of
hysteria? I so trust the heart OF
our people that I believe their re-
sponse would be immediate and the
flow of necessary material would
soon be on its way. Instead, the
administration demands the same
powers Hitler demanded and received
In 1888 with the same deceptive
clause limiting the time. The ad-
ministration so-called amendments
do not alter the bill at all"
When Mrs. Bolton concluded, Re-
publican members of the House
stood and applauded her.
Representative Faddis, Democrat
of Pennsylvania, defending the bill
said he believed it was essential for
the defense of this country to sup
port Britain to the utmost limit. In
reply to questions from opponents
of the bill, Mr.. Faddis said that he
was not in favor of having the
United States go to war now" He
said emphatically, however, that
circumstances might arise in which
it would be necessary to go to war
81 am in favor of going TO war,
he added, whenever it is the only
way of keeping war out Of this
country"
Chairman Bloom argued that the
bill was not step toward war
but a step which would give this
country time to build up its ma
tional defense, so as to be ready
for war should Hitler defeat Eng
land. Hitler, he said, would attack
this country whenever he thought
1t to his advantage to do so. HI
insisted that danger of wal, there
fore, was greater if this country
did not give all possible aid to the
British.
Become Better Prepared.
"As each day goes by we are bet
ter prepared. Despite the confusini
talk on the subject there can be littl
doubt that the stronger we get ant
, the stronger We are, tie more hkel,
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