Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-23
Promises
Forgotten
By President
.oIdAtoIa tion Called
Mother Goose Stuff
(The opinions expressed by
General Johnson are not neces-
sariiy those of The Detroit
Times.
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

BY HUGH 5. JOHNSON
THE President says that any
suggestion that under the
"lease-lend" bill he might trans
fer part of our navy TO another
nation is a "cow-jumped-over-
the-moon" idea - meaning, we
may suppose. Mother Goose nom
sense or a palpable impossi-
bility.
"Hi-diddle- diddle, the eat and
the fiddle. the COW jumped over
the MOON"
He also says that he never
even considered using the navy
to convoy American shipments
to Britain.
A great deal of confusion is
creeping into this debate. There
is nothing in the 'lease-lend'' bill
about conveying ships. Provid-
ing they are not violating the
neutrality act and the Presi-
dents own proclamatlons there
under, by entering proclaimed
war zones. or otherwise. Ameri-
can ships can still sail the sea
If there is danger of illegal
interference with them by an
other nation while they are in
pursuit of their lawful business,
the President doesn't need any
additional authority TO protect
them with naval conveys. There
fore the convoy argument is not
properly in the debate on the
"lease-lend" bill
DUT this ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ID business is something else
again. There is no authentic
record of any COW jumping over
any moon. but there is a very
recent and rather startling
record of President trans
ferring very substantial part
Of our navy. to-wit: 30 destroy
ers. TO a bclligerent nation.
1t was done without any spe-
cific authority
There is also a considerable
record of diddling public opinion
lust before election or during
the debate on holly contested
legislation by promises that
were quickly forgotten-for ex-
ample. the 1882 promise not 10
violate the gold covenants in
our bonds and money
That was the highest diddle-
diddle in all our economic his
tory. But there was no remedy.
5 All that happened was that the
little dog laughed to see such
sport and the dish ran away
with the spoon.
If THERE is no intention 10
L transfer any part OF our
sorely needed armament. why IS
il necessary TO grant unlimited
authority 10 do so? With a
little paraphrasing andA trans
position. which does no Violence
10 it's intent. the bill authorizes
the President Ito sell, transfer
lease. lend or otherwise dispose
of any weapon. munitions,
aircraft. vessel or boat any
component material . any
other commodity or article tor
defense.
This includes any (such de-
fense) article F.. manufactured
or prOcessed +. or to which
the United States has oc
hereafter acquires title, posses
sion or control. "
This transfer may be made 10
the government ol-any country
whose defense the President
deems vital to the defense of
the United States"
The terms of transfer shall
be those which the President
deems satisfactory and the benC-
fit to the United States may be
payment or repayment In KIND
or property, or any other dlrecl
OF lnOlIeCi Ur1ltlil NihtH Aii1
President deems satisfactory -
for example. few kind words.
or. under the common Law Of
consideration in England and
our country. SO slight a thing as
"a peppercorns nut or a bunch
of hay.
THERE is no doubt about IT,.
L the bill in its present form
includes outright donations 10
the President of the power Of
gift of any or all of the defense
resources of the United States.
= the power to wage about eco
nomic war and a very substan-
tial part of the power to wage
undeclared military and naval
war for any cause or without
cause and for or against any
nation anywhere in the world.
Distrihufed bv limited Features Snyd.. In