Evening star., 1941-01-16
fTert of StimSon statement on
Page A-11D
By ]. A. O'LEARY.

DIV j. "A. "
The United States would be in
great danger of invasion by air if
the British Navy should be lost,
Secretary of War Stimson told the
House Foreign Affairs Committee
today in urging passage of the ad-
ministration's lease-lend bill for aid
to Great Britain.
He made the statement while
Representative Fish, Republican, OF
New York was questioning him as TO
the Arnys ability to hold of an
invading force.
The New Yorker was contendlng
that $4,000 men would be the limit
of an invading expedition and that
this country is planning for de-
fense Army of 100000 men.
Mr.. Stimson said air attacks might
easily be made against this country
from potential bases obtained by an
enemy power.
You are referring to bases in
Latin American" Mr.. Fish asked.
Not necessarily" answered Mr..
Stimson. Bases might be obtained
in Newfoundland or the northern
parts of Canada. which would expose
all New England coasts to air at
tacks."
Not a Radical Measure.
The defense of Great Britain is
as important to the United States
as is the defense of the South Amer
lean republics, Mr. Stimson told
the committee in urging approval
of the lease-lend bill.
He made the comparison to show
1t is not a radical measure. because
Congress only last July granted the
President substantially the same
powers to help arm the South Amer
lean countries in the arsenals and
shipyards of the United States.
Mr.. Stimson took the stand while
committee members still had fresh
in their minds the testimony late
yesterday of Secretary of the Treas
ury Morgenthau that England will
have reached the limit of dollar as
sets to continue cash purchases of
its needs after it pays this year for
supplies and equipment already
ordered.
Kennedy to Be Witness.
Meanwhile, it was learned that
Joseph P. Kennedy, retiring Ambas-
sador to London, would testify be-
fore the committee next Tuesday.
Mr. Kennedy was an early morning
visitor at both the White House and
State Der art.1ent today. Opponents
of the lease lend bill have claimed
he would support their view; sup
porters, however, have questioned
that he would express any outright
opposition to the policies of the
President.
Secretary Stimson told the COM
mittee the United States does not
have to rely on the law of self
defense to aid Great Britain at this
time, but is justified in doing so
under the Kellogg-Briand pact of
1926 to outlaw war, which was signed
by 63 nations, including the axis
powers.
He recalled how, in 1884, the
Association of International Law
met in Hungary to consider what the
effect would be if any signatory of
the pact should attack any other
signatory. Those experts in inter-
national law found, he said, that
whenever such an attack occurred
the other signatories could, without
breach of that treaty or interna-
tional law, go to the aid of those
attacked in various ways.
Secretary Stimson paused in the
reading of his prepared statement
to point out that MY good friend
Mr.. Fish" voted for the Bloom
Pittman Act of last July to help
arm the South American repub-
lies. Representative Fish is leading
the opposition to the pending bill in
committee.
81 ask you, in all fairness" Secre-
tary Stimson continued, IF today
the defense of Great Britain isn't
as important to us as the defense
of Paraguay, or any one of the 81
American republlcS?"
American Republics at Peace.
Mr.. Fish admitted ne supported
that bill, but continued there is a
difference in the present measure,
In that the South American coun-
tries were at peace, while this is to
aid countries at war.
In that one respect it is differ
ent," said Secretary Stimson, but
In so far as its general purpose to
aid our defense is concerned, there
is no distinction. 1 don't suppose
you voted for the act of the last Con-
(See LEASE-LEND, Page A-4)