Evening star., 1941-05-18
Wheeler Urges Peace
Appeal 10 People
OF Axis Countries
Threat to U. S. increased
By Viehy Ties With Nozis,
Senate Leaders Agree
By GOULD LINCOLN.

"
Senate Leaders Agree
BY GOULD LINCOLN.
The new collaboration" agree
ment, entered into by the Vichy gov
ernment with Germany, has greatly
intensified the seriousness of the in
ternational situation so far as the
United States Is concerned. in the
opinion of Senate leaders. This goes
both for the isolationist group and
the supporters of the administra-
tion's policy.
The views expressed, however, are
divergent. Senators supporting the
administrations policy said yester-
day they believed that II 1t becomes
apparent Germany is to have use OF
French territory in Africa and par
ticularly of French naval and air
bases, 1t will be only a step to the
German use of the French Navy and
to the entry of German forces into
these bases, from which 1t would be
easy to menace South and Central
They did not regard 1t as likely
that the Germans would undertake
to extend their operations to the
West Indian possessions of France.
If there was any indication OF such
a purpose by the Germans, they
added, this country would, of course,
move Immediately to take control of
those possessions, with the prospect
of war.
Some of the isolationist Senators,
on the other hand, insisted that the
collaboration plans made 1t all the
more necessary that this country re-
main aloof from the war in Europe.
This view was forcibly expressed by
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of Mon
tana.
Says Entry Would Be Futile.
"The French situation" he said,
makes it more serious for the peo-
pie of Great Britain and to me
demonstrates the greater futility of
ever getting into the war. Also 1t is
evident there is a closer tie-up be-
tween Russia and Germany. If we
get into this war, as hotheads in
this country want us to, we would
be fighting Germany, Italy, France
and Japan, and probably Russia.
'It Is all right to talk in idealistic
terms about fighting for democracy,
but of course the British Empire is
not a democracy and never has been,
because the British have 400, 900 900
people throughout the world run by
the city of London. We ought to
look at the situation cold bloodedly
from the point of view of what is
best for the United States.
1T seems to me that the Presi-
dent of the United States, repre-
senting 1000, 900 people, in the in
terest of peace in his next speech
should point out what the objectives
of the United States are and those
objectives should be not what the
British tories and imperialists want
but what are the best interests of
the world.
HE ought to 60 over the head of
Hitler, Mussolini and Churchill and
appeal to the people OF these coun-
tries directly for peace. 1t should
be apparent to all thinking people
that it Is absolutely futile for us to
get into this war under the condi-
tions that exist throughout the
world.
Calls for Peace Move.
Il cannot help but feel, from read
ing the press reports, that Rudolph
Hess adventure must have a de-
moralizing effect on Germany, and
I belive that the German people,
like those of Great Britain, France
and Italy, as well as those in the
conquered countries, would like to
see peace, and that President
Roosevelt, Notwithstanding he has
denounced the rulers in variol&
countries to such an extent we
haven't any friends in the world
outside of England, could be great
influence in stopping this slaughter
of human beings"
Those, who like Senator Wheeler,
are taking this occasion to press for
a negotiated peace. emphasized the
idea that the President should un-
dertake to influence world opinion
much in the same manner as did
Woodrow Wilson when he presented
his IA points" during the World
War.
Senate supporters of the Presi-
dents foreign policy, on the other
hand, strongly urged that this coun-
try make it extremely clear to the
Axis powers, as well as France, that
the United States will not stand for
Germany's taking over Dakar, in
French West Africa. They urged
also that immediate steps be taken
by this country to so surround the
French West Indian possessions
that military move could be made
at once to take control of these
territories, If such a course becomes
necessary.
One of thes Senators, who pre-
ferred not to have his name used,
added that the President will be in
a position, when he makes his fire-
side chat to the American people
May 81, to announce to the Amer
lean people what serious situation