Evening star., 1941-02-18
BinsU. ). Answer
To Dictator Challenge,
Conna||y Declares
Forum Speaker Sees
Leuse-Lend Measure as
Vital to Freedom

Senator Connally, Democrat, oi
Texas spoke on the need for sup
porting the lease-lend bill In an
address last night in the Nationa,
Radio Forum, arranged by The Star
The talk was broadcast over q
national hookup of the National
Broadcasting Co. and was heard
locally over Station WMAL.
The text of the speech follows:
The history of the centuries Is
dotted by outstanding events thai
have profoundly affected the course
of human civilization in the Chris
tian era, the invasion of Europe
by Attila, the Hun, in 451; the
fall of the Roman Empire in ats
the crusading campaign of the
Saracens which ended at Tours in
1872: the conquests of Genghis Khan
in the 18th century; the American
Revolution and the establishment of
the United States; the Napoleonic
wars, and the World War of 1914
1918 are classic examples. Funda-
1llCIlUdl 1OlCCo dllI 1dl dl1O
elemental powers met and struggled
for mastery in grim and bitter
battle.
Democracy and free government,
toward which mankind has been
cropping and advancing through the
ages, is now face to face with a
similar challenge to its continued
existence Powerful and militant
forces now arrogantly decree the
extinction of freedom and democ-
racy wherever their armies of con-
quest and plunder can march, wher-
ever their navies can float, and
wherever their swarming fleets of
the skies can fly.
Threatens U. S. Security.
The dictators, Hitler and Mus
solini, and their totalitarian govern
ments, after conquering peaceful
and neutral nations in Europe and
enslaving their people, have pro-
claimed their determination to
establish new world order"
Nazi-ism and Fascism have leagued
their might to enforce with fire
and the sword, their wills upon the
existing world. The United States
Is part of that world Japan has
become member of the axis. This
compact of aggression and conquest
Is an armed threat to the security
of the United States. If Germany
prefers Nazi-ism and Italy embraces
Fascism, that is their right. They
have no right to impose their sys-
TENS by force upon us.
Great Britain, with superb gall
lantry, in a solemn pledge with fate,
is pouring out the blood, not alone
of her soldiery. but of her civilian
population. in stemming the tide of
world dominion.
Our country tempts the ambition
and lust of military tyrants. Our
resources of raw materials, the fer
tility Of our soils, our mineral riches
and our vast wealth are alluring to
their greed and hunger for conquest.
Our democratic institutions and
system of free government are op-
posed to their concept of a new
world ORDER of totalitarianism and
personal tyranny. The dictators
speak of democracy and free gov
eminent in America with scorn and
arrogant contempt.
The lease-lend bill proposes to
furnish supplies and munitions, but
not men, to Great Britain and other
free governments who are resisting
the aggressors.
There has been disseminated
through the press and over the
radio much misleading information
respecting the provisions and the
effects of the lease-lend bill. 1t has
been charged that it constitutes a
blank check to the President and
that Congress abdicates its au-
thority.
Let us see just what the bill does
authorize the Executive to do. 1t
first defines defense articles" as
any weapon, munition, aircraft, YES
sci or boat, or any other commodity
or article for defense. The bill then
provides that the President may
when he deems it in the interest
of national defense" authorize the
Secretary of War, the Secretary of
the Navy or the head of any other
Government department to manu-
facture or otherwise procure any
defense article for the government
of any country whose defense the
prnC1HnI1t donr1oc ito1 tn
of the United States, and Ito sell,
transfer, exchange, lease, lend, or
otherwise dispose of, to any such
government any defense article"
However, it is specifically provided
that no such disposition of a de-
fense article shall be made by the
President except after consulta-
ton with the Chief of Staff of the
Army or the Chief of Naval Opera
tions of the Navy, or both" The
Congress will control the purse
strings.
The measure also directs that the
terms and conditions upon which
any such foreign government re-
ceives any aid shall be those which
the President deems satisfactory"
and that the benefit to the United
States may be payment or repay
ment in kind or property, or any
other direct or indirect benefit which
the President deems satisfactory. 1t
will thus be noted that the Presi-
dent has the power of negotiation
and control of the terms and con-
ditions upon which such aid may
be extended.
I want to emphasize that before
the President may extend aid to
any government, he must make a
specific finding that the defense of
such country is vital to the de-
fense of the United States" When
1t Is remembered that the President
must also consult the Chief of Staff
of the Army and the Chief of Naval
Operations of the Navy, or both, it
may be clearly perceived that the
action taken will be in truth and in
fact in the defense of the United
States itself.
The President is required, from
time to time. but not less frequently
than every 80 days, to transmit to