Evening star., 1941-03-08
By J. A. O'LEARY.

Chairman Walsh of the Senate
Naval Affairs Committee today be-
gan what may be the last day of de-
bate on the British-ald bill, with
final plea to curb the power OF the
President to transfer naval vessels
to friendly nations.
As the Senate reaSSembled at IL
am. after the administration had
beaten off every attack on the meas
ure last night, Majority Leader
Barkley was still hopeful of passing
the measure today. Declaring that
opponents of the bill were Co
operating to obtain final vote to-
day." he said he may not even ask
for a limit on speeches by unanimous
consent, if progress is made with
out it.
Saving he was entirely satisfied
with the administrations consistent
victories on the legislation yeSter-
dav. Senator Barkley expressed 10
reporters the belief that the House
would accept all Senate amend
ments to the bill in time for the
LEGISLATION to be on President Roose-
velt's desk by Monday night
Defeat of Amendment Expected.
The Walsh amendment, to pre-
vent the transfer of any naval VeSsel
or aircraft unless it can be replaced
IN three months, is expected to fall
as did a series of efforts YESTERDAY
In restrict the movement OF Iand
and naval forces to this hemisphere
Although one or two opposltlon
Senators could easily force post
nonement of final vote until next
week. there were no signs at noon
+hev intend to do so. Senator Bark
lev said he would keep the Senate
in session again tonight if passage
does not come during the afternoon.
"If we enact the bill in its present
form" said Senator Walsh, "Wlthout
the amendment I have offered, we
are saving to the President. Here
Is the Navy, not only for you to
command and operate as you see nt'
but also to loan or sell or give away
as YOU see fit
Senator Walsh said he recognized
"the argument that if the British lose
and the British fleet falls into the
hands of the Germans, our position
will become very much more pre-
carious than it is at present. That
is undoubtedly true, but as l nave
said previously, it is speculation. 1t
is an argument based upon many
uncertainties. 1t is a series Of IFS -
IL Hours of Roll Calls.
American naval experts believe,
he said that even with our present
Navy we could successfully ward off
any attempted invasion of this coun-
try, provided we retain our feet in
tact and base it in this hemisphere.
Senate leaders beat off every Brit
ish-aid bill change they deemed un-
wise in II hours of repeated roll
calls yesterday.
In last nights balloting, hackers
of the bill-to lease or lend all ma
terial aid to countries whose sur
Vival is considered vital to the de-
fenSe of the United States-demon-
strated their ability to resist efforts
to curtail the scope of the measure,
and final approval virtually was as
Sured by at least two to one.
Two Limita tiOns Adopted.
Out of more than a dozen lmita-
tions proposed yesterday, only two
were adopted-both with the con-
sent of administration leaders. They
were:
The compromise Ellender amend
ment, declaring nothing in this bill
changes existing laws governing the
movement of land or naval forces
adopted, 65 to "a.
The proposal of Senator Clark
Democrat, of Missouri, providing fol
transfer of title" to defense article!
being sent to Britain, to reduce the
danger of involvement if goods tt
which this country held title should
be sunk en- route. 1t was accepted
.on a voice vote.
One major fight remained today
over the Walsh amendment. Sena
tor Brewster, Republican, of Main
has a similar amendment. under
which transfers could be made ONLY
as new ships leave the runways, tt
keep the Navy's tonnage at tn,
present level.
A last-minute effort also may
come from Senator Taft, Repub,
lican, of Ohio, to substitute a direct
$4,000, 100000 loan for the lease.
lend program, out in the light o.
(See BRITISH AID, Page A-3O