Evening star., 1941-02-26
compiling information pertaining to
operations on the mainland of Asia.
Three Things Forecast.

compiling information pertaining to
operations on the mainland of Asia.
Three Things Forecast.
Enactment of the lease lend pro-
gram, he declared in his prepared
speech, could be followed only by
three things-"the degradation of
Congress, presidential dictatorship
and entrance into war"
In other words" he continued,
when this bill becomes law this
Congress will be reduced to a rubber
stamp-a body as powerless as
Hitler'S ReichStag or MuSSolini's
Chamber of Deputies or the En-
perOr Hirohito's Diet.
And while this Congress is thus
degraded, at the same time the
President will be magnified into a
! dictator, one-man ruler. And
when that happens it will not be
many days or weeks before we will
be told that it is up to us to rubber
stamp the declaration of war which
this dictator President has already
entered"
Senator Nye said there were
signs" that the first fighting" in
which the United States might en-
gage would be done in the Far East.
Why" he asserted, "it is known
that studies and estimates are being
afforded in the Navy Department
here in Washington involving the
taking, the holding and the keeping
open of the Burma Road in spite of
the assurances from every hand
that we are determined to keep out
Of war"
Move Highly Significant.
Senator Nye thought it highly
significant" that we are beginning
to move our battle fleet and make
threatening gestures only now that
British imperial interests in Asia
seem to be threatened"
The United States. he continued.
had made no warlike moves" dur
ing previous stages of japanese op-
eratlonS in China. On the contrary,
he said, this country had continued
to furnish Japan with supplies for
bloody butchery."
But" he declared, "the minute
Japan began to move southwark. |
the minute British imperial inter-
ests were threatened, then we began
to talk war and act in warlike ways. |
and now they warn us that at
almost any moment we may find
ourselves up to our necks in an
Asiatic war"
Soothing at fears that the United
States might be invaded, Senator
Nye accused President Roosevelt of |
fostering such notions with DOGGY
man stories"
Attack Fears Held Fantastic.
The Dakotan called it fantastic" !
to assume that Hitler could seize
Martinique and bomb the Panama |
Canal or that he could successfully |
launch land attack on the United |
States from Latin America.
The subject of amendment pro-
posals for the British-aid bill was
raised at President Roosevelt's press
conference yesterday, but Mr.. Roose- /
velt declined to enter a detailed
discussion.
Mr.. Roosevelt was asked for his !
opinion on the Ellender amendment |
regarding the use of American |
troops outside the hemisphere. The
President replied that he had dis
cussed it and numerous other
amendments with congressional |
leaders earlier, but did not think
he should talk about them for the |
present.
1t was obvious, he added, that any
amendment was undesirable which |
would change the policy of the Gov
ernment to give all aid to Britain
short of war. If Congress should |
decide to incorporate a restriction |
on troops, it was legislative rather
than an executive problem to decide |
how the Western Hemisphere should
be defined.
In yesterdays Senate debate SEN |
ators Aiken, Republican, of Vermont |
and Shipstead, Republican, of Min
nesota carried the main burden of .
the fight for the opposition, while |
Senators Barbour, Republican, of
New Jersey and Murray, Democrat, |
OF Montana did the speechmaking
for advocates of the bill.
Senator Murray said the bill "un-
dertakes to insure us against in
volvement IN the war by empowering
the President to give material and |
effective aid to those countries whose |
defense is necessary to our defense" |
Senator Barbour asserted the con- |
clusion was "inescapable" that |
Britain's survival 'is essential at |
this crucial hour to the defense of |
the United States"
Senator Aiken, making his first
Senate speech. appealed for rejec-
ton of the bill ''lest American boys
give their lives to define the |
boundaries Of African colonies" The |
passage OF the measure probably |
meant war, he said, and in this |
contention he was joined by Senator
Shipstead.