Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-03-12
Aircraft, Ordnance
And Food Top Items
In Aid-Britain Plea
Roosevelt Asks
Seven Billions in
Letter to Congress
Continued From First Page)

hOrn and the letter reao 10 tne 1ull
House. This was done and the
recommendation immediately re-
ferred to the House Appropriations
Committee.
Hearings are scheduled to begin
tomorrow with legislation expected
before the House by the first Of next
week.
Debate Due Early Next Week.
Speaker Rayburn announced at a
press conference that the big appro-
priation bill probably would be
ready for House debate on Monday
or Tuesday of next week at the
latest.
I'VE are going to put anything
else aside when a thing like that
comes up" he said.
There was no mention in either
the communication of the President
or of the budget director of priori-
ties or of the specific materials and
supplies which might be sent first
to such countries as Britain, Greece
and China.
But the fact that planes and
equipment accounted for the largest
chunk of the appropriation indi-
Gated that that phase of the pro-
gram would be stressed.
The size of the fund for farm, in
duStrial and other commodities in
dictated, too, that the administration
intends to use the law as far as pos
sible to prevent Britain from losing
the war with the axis powers
through starvation.
Meanwhile, the President this
afternoon was to confer with the
departmental authorities who will
present testimony on Capitol Hill.
Those called for consultation at
the White House were Secretary
of State Hull, Secretary of Treasury
Morgenthau, Secretary of War Slim
son, either Secretary of Navy Knox
or Undersecretary Forrestal, Gen.
George c. Marshall, Army chief OF
staff, and Rear Admiral R. E. Inger-
soil, acting chief of naval operations
Earlier in the day, after drafting
his letter to Speaker Rayburn with
the assistance of Budget Director
Smith, the President kept a limited
number of engagements.
First to cab at the White House
was Chairman Harrison of the Sen
ate Finance Committee, accompanied
by Oscar Johnston, Mississippi cot
ton grower. Ralph Budd, member of
the National Defense Commission in
charge of transportation matters,
and Will Hays, moving picture ex-
ecutive, were other White House
callers. Chairman E. j. Flynn Of
the National Democratic Committee
was a luncheon guest.
Even as the S7,000,000,000 request
headed for Capitol Hill. Army and
Navy procurement authorities were
preparing for the transfer of an
initial consignment of material to
both Britain and Greece. This first
list, approval of which was an
nounced late yesterday by the Presi-
dent, is understood to comprise
equipment already in existence and
to be part of the $1,000, 900 900
quantity for which transfer was
specifically authorized in the lease
lend bill.
Today's unprecedented peace time
request on Congress climaxed a
crowded "a hours of bringing the
gigantic program of aid for the
nations fighting aggressors into
actually.
Beginning yesterday morning de-
velopmentS have followed one
another in this chronological order:
For 80 minutes, the President
conferred with House and Senate
appropriation and military leaders
on the estimated cost and scope of
the program, authorizing them to
announce on their departure that
there would be a recommendation
today for the $1,000 000,0 900 appro-
priation.
Following Immediately after the
consultation with congressional ad-
visers, the Chief Executive met for
another hour with departmental,
military and naval advisers, settling
at that time on the first list of ex-
listing or interpretation equip
-ment which is to be transferred to
two Of the belligerent nations.
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, the
House speeded through a scant two
hours of debate on Senate revisions
10 the legislation and recorded its
approval shortly before 2:30 o'clock
by vote of BIT to II. Party lines
were broken on this vote and SO
Republicans joined Minority Leader
Martin in supporting 22o Democrats
and three Progressives in voting con-
currence.
Legislation Rushed TO White House.
BY pre- arrangement, the parch-
rent copy of the legislation was
quickly signed by Vice President
Wallace and Speaker Rayburn and
rushed to the White House by Chair
man KirWan of the House Commit
tee on Enrolled Bills.
President Roosevelt, using six pens,
affixed his signature at $50 o'clock.
Present were only two White House
aides, Chief Executive Clerk Rudolph
F0rSter ana Secretary Stephen T,
Early, and score of photographers.
Less than five minutes later, mes
sengers hurried from the White
House to the proper departments
with copies of the first list Of arti-
cles to be shipped to the British
and Greeks.
Announcement of this Latter ac-
ton was made at a press conference
shortly after 4 o'clock, with the ex-
PLANTATION that the nature of the
first shipment would be kept secret
until such time as its disclosure
would be of no military value.
At the press conference, Mr..
Roosevelt also made two other dis
closures: First, that he will dis
cuss the part which he sees for this
Nation in the present crisis in
Nation wide radio address some
time during the coming week and.
second, that he had suggested to
the congressional conferees that
JOINT appropriations subcommittee
be designated to keep in touch with
the White House for full and cur
F..