The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-02-15
pEsTRoYERs FoR BRITAIN


To the impatient reader with
fixed ideas as to just what course
We should follow in our policy Of
aid to Britain. such arguments as
are now going on in Congress are
tiresome and disgusting. Out OF
these, however, there is usually
some good resulting. From them
the open minded reader at least
gets both sides.
We might conclude that the real
issue between Wendell Nillkie and
Senator Robert a. Taft is for po-
litical leadership OF the Republican
party, but nevertheless their result
ant arguments on the question OF de-
stroyers is instructive.
Taft and other opponents OF the
Administration foreign policy
claim that the Willkie-knoI de-
stroyer dispute reveals THE need
for an amendment to the British
aid bill forbidding the sale. loan,
lease or gift OF any navy equip
meut. They would renew their
fight in the Senate 10 incorporate
such a restriction, even though the
majority OF the Senate Foreign Re
lations Committee has already
turned down such proposal.
The destroyer controversy
whether the United States can
transfer more Of them TO Britain
without impairing the efficiency OF
our own fleet been close TO
deadlock White House Secretary
Stephen r. Early insists that there
is no disagreement betw cen Wen
dell L. WfllKie, 1870 Republican pres
identisl candidate, and Secretary OF
the Navy Frank Knox. Yet Willkie
says the United States can send
five TO 10 destroyers a month 10
Britain; while Knox. after a confer
ence with the President on the sub
ject announces that his position is
unchanged that the United States
cannot spare any more warships.
Early says those differences OF
expression between Willkie and
Knox are perceived only by read
ing the press. 1T ia a situation
created by the press. he says, and,
7 will add, created by the press in
the perfectly legitimate pursuit OF
news
Congressional action on the Brit
ming OF Senate debate Monday.
Opponents OF the bill are center
ing their fire on the Administra-
tons refusal 10 guarantee against
further depletion OF the fleet or
10 offer resssurances that Ameri-
can soldiers, sailors and fliers will
not be sent outside the Western
Hemisphere to fight.
The majority report says the bill
was not "a war measure. but a prac-
teal safeguard aimed at keeping
US out OF war" and that 1t con-
tanned no authority for sending
American troops, under any circum-
stances, TO fight on foreign soil"
But Sen. Gerald P. Nye, r., ".
D., asks why the majority had
turned down the Ellender amend
ment declaring that nothing in the
bill authorized the sending OF L.
$. armed forces outside the United
States, its territories and posses
eions, and the Western Hemisphere.
obviously. there is thought in
some minds at least that the course
outlined in the grant OF power con-
templated in the present bill con-
templates the possibility OF the need
OF troops or for our naval estab-
lishment in an aggressive way in
parts of the world remote from
this hemisphere and our posses
sions, including the Philippines. -
Nye says. There can be no other
construction than that to the oppo-
sition to the Ellender proposal"
Sen. Bennett c. Clark. D., Mo
another opponent, denounces as a
fake the Administration conces.
sion TO limit TO ,300000000 the
anoupt of ornaments and defense
equipment the President can send
10 foreign powers. Additional aid
would require congressional action.
Pointing out that no standard OF
valuation Is set, and that the Pres.
ident could set 80 80 as the value
OF an SS0.000.0oO battleship. Clark
says that in exhausting the 1890.
100000 limitation the President
could dispose OF everything in the
Army and Navy.
Filing OF the majority report has
cleared the way for Senate debate
Monday. Senate Democratic Leader
Alben W Barley OF Kentucky pre-.
diets passage within two weeks by
a two-to-one majority. Other well
informed Senate sources say No
important floor amendments will
be accepted by the Senate leader
ship.
The nation will await with in
tsrest the trend OF action Monday