Evening star., 1941-02-03
Dirksen Calls
Conference
Extraordinary
Demands Chairman
Inform House of
Ambassadors Talk
Earlier Story on Page AID
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

IlC ANOI4lJ N4c4b VI 4JOA u AAd4AACFhg
British Ambassador, to Chairman
Bloom Of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee and Chairman George
of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, became a point Of con-
tention in the House today during
the debate on the lease-lend bill for
aid to the British.
Representative Dirksen, Repub-
lican, of Illinois, brought the mat
ter to the attention Of the House
and termed the visit extraordinary
procedure" At the conclusion of a
speech by Chairman Bloom. defend-
ing the lease-lend bill, the Illinois
member questioned Mr.. Bloom
about the visit Lord Halifax made
him on Saturday. He asked Mr..
Bloom what had been the occasion
Of the visit and what had happened.
Mr.. Bloom replied that he and
the Ambassador had discussed the
Magma Carta for one thing. He
added that the Ambassador had
made some inquiries about the
time table" Admitting he had
been at first perplexed about the
meaning of the time table" Mr..
Bloom said he had learned from
the Ambassa dor he was referring to
the procedure in the House on the
lease-lend bill.
Demands House Be Told.
Mr.. Dlrksen said it was an
extraordinary procedure for the
representative OF a foreign govern
ment to consult with the chairmen
OF congressional committees on the
handling Of bill OF vital importance
to the American people.
The character of the situation"
said Mr.. Dirksen demands that
the House be told what information
was given the chairman OF the
House Foreign Affairs Committee
by Lord Halifax"
Representative Eberharter of
Pennsylvania, Democrat, pointed out
that the lease-lend bill already had
been reported to the House at the
time Of Lord Halifax's visit to Chair
man Bloom. Mr.. Bloom insisted
that there had been no secrecy what
ever about the visit Lord Halifax
made to him. With that the Incl
dent closed.
Debate Progresses
General 0ebate on the Iease-Iend
bill made rapid progress in the House
during the day. The bill was de-
Tended by Representative Bloom Of
New York, Representative SABBATH
Of Illinois and Representative Mich
OILS Of Oklahoma and attacked by
Representative Fish of New York,
ranking Republican member of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, and by
Representative Eaton of New Jer-
sey, also Republican member Of
the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mr.. Fish called the bill a war
dictator r-bankruptcy" measure.
Mr.. Eaton was less drastic in his
criticism of the measure. but in
sisted he was unwilling to vote for
its passage unless it was amended
IN reasonable" manner.
Il desire with all my heart" said
Mr.. Eaton, ito vote for legislation
which will give Britain Immediately
the help she needs. and upon terms
that will strengthen rather than
SLOW down her heroic defense Of
democracy and freedom. I hope
with all my heart that the majority
leadership in the House, whose pat
riotism and integrity are bevond
question, will permit such reason
able amendments to the present
bill as will make possible its unan-
lmous passage by the House.
Such wise and tolerant action
will reunite and reaSSure our people.
and will serve notice to all the world
that this is still free America, and
free Americans are on guard"
Called War of Atheism.
Mr.. Eaton prefaced his plea for
amendment Of the lease-lend bill
with a statement that this is in
very truth a world war" and that it
is being waged by the aggressor
nations for the purpose of creating
new world order"
Spiritually, this is a war of athe-
ism against Christianity" he said.
POLITICALLY, it is war of despotisn,
dictatorship and tyranny against the
ideals and institutions of free self
governing democracy everywhere.
Economically, it is a war of state
socialism against every form of
private ownership of property and
free labor. In the largest sense,
this is a battle to the death between
world slavery and world freedom"
Mr.. Eaton said that Americans
are united in favor of completing
without delay the national defense
program. He said also they were
united in their desire to aid Britain.
He criticized the lease-lend bill,
however, on the ground that it was
a brilliant subterfuge to give Presi-
dent Roosevelt power to do any
thing he deemed wise. He said
that the country was bewildered by
the terms of the bill. Citizens
everywhere. he Said. are asking.