Evening star., 1941-02-12

is a disposition to shove It on us and
pass it Immediately.
Willkie-Well, Senator, nobody In
America believes more strongly than
l do that there should be the right
of debate to determine a question
and that 1t should be preserved in
America. and l am not here as a
witness urging what speed should be
taken by the United States Senate.
Johnson-You made a statement
with reference to the cracked dear
old isolationists"
Willkie-I did not mean TO crack
anybody.
Johnson-You know fought this
fight out once concerning isolation
ism. I wanted to call your
attention TO the fact that here is
one isolationiSt who has no other
thought than TO keep his country
out of war.
Willkie-So do I.
Johnson-And on that he is will
ing to stand and willing to stand
with anybody on earth.
Calls Stand Admirable.
Willkie-Senator, let me say OF you
that any man, whatever his position
was, would admire your stand.
Johnson-The respect in which !
disagree with you In relation to this
bill is that you accept it with the
few instances in which you say you
think 1t ought to be amended, and
1 cannot accept it because it is a
dictatorial bill. and it furnishes us
a dictator In this country, and / do
not wish, In war that we carry on
with any other country. to lose our
freedom at home
Willkie-Senator, am apprehen-
sive of every grant of power to an
executive, but if f1exibility of action
is not given here the Nazis may not
be stopped. l find myself in the
position of having to make choice
within the limits of my own vision.
I wish I did not have to face that
alternative, because no man in this
country looks with more dread upon
executive authority than I do.
Knows What War Is.
Johnson-And / take it no man
would look with more dread upon a
war in which this country should be
engaged.
Willkie-That is right. I went
through one of them. I know what
1t is.
JohnSon-That is what am Striv-
ing TO prevent, and I am striving
in the same way to give aid to
Britain in the fashion which will
be most effective, but ! cannot give
all-out" aid to Britain and feel
that in that fashion we are going
right into war, with all the horrors
of war.
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota-Upon your return. Mr..
Willkie, did you assert that you
had not heard over there any talk
OF our becoming an active ally?
Willkie-That is correct I talked
to every member of the British cab
met. I talked. I would say. to rs
Of the principal industriallsts in
England I talked to hundreds of
men who worked in shops and fac
tories. and 1 never heard one per-
son suggest that America should
become an active ally and belliger-
ent in this war. l heard many ex-
press the hope that we would help
effectively.
Nye Cites Campaign Speech.
Nye-One further question. In
September or October you asserted ::
The battle of America is a battle
for liberty. 1t belongs right here
at home" Do you still feel the
same way?
Willkie-That is what we are do
ing here tOday-determining wheth-
er America is going to preserve
itself-in my judgment
Nye-In the same vein. at about
the same time you remarked: Il
believe We should keep out of war
at all hazards"
Willkie-Yes. and I think this bill
provides the method OF keeping out
of war.
Nye-You stated further: We are
being edged toward war by an ad-
ministration which is alike careless
in speech and in action" l think
you have already discussed your
present views on that score.
Willkie-Yes, sir.
Dismissed as "Oratory."
Nye-One more assertion of yours
that of October 80: "On the basis oi
his (Rooseyelt'sD past performance
with pledges TO the people, you may
expect we will be at war by April
194l, if he is elected" Do you still
agree that that might be the case?
Willkie-It might be. 1t was bit
of campaign oratory laughter. ]
am very glad you read my speeches
because the President said he did
not Laughter
Clark-Do you think it is possible
for England to achieve victory in
such a way as TO dictate the re-
establishment of France, Holland
Belgium and countries like that
without an invasion of the con-
tinent?
Willkle-Oh. yes.
Faith in Victory BY Air.
Clark-Do you mean to say 1t Is
possible to conquer Germany from
the air?
Willkie-Oh certainly. I think so,
Senator. l think if we furnish
effective aid to Britain, which will
keep the channels open, and if Brit
ain is able to resist invasion, as soon