Evening star., 1941-02-09
Lease>Lend Bill Declared Sure
To Pass, Likely With Changes
Concessions Expected to Reduce Size of Opposition
Vote and to Avoid Evidence of Lack
of American Unity.
By Felix Morley.

Criticism of the lease-lend bill, though
more pronounced than was anticipated
by many of its proponents, is not suff-
GENTLY powerful to avert eventual en-
actment.
A month after introduction the meas
ure is advancing steadily through the
barrage laid down against it. Some very
Hrong opposition, on the floor of the
Senate, is still to be encountered. But
there is no longer any doubt of an
ultimately favorable vote, particularly
If certain amendments sharply qualifying
the extension of executive power are
Included.
There is also no doubt however, that
there will be a formidable opposition
vote If definite limitations on the en-
iarged presidential authority are not
included. And since the recording of
powerful opposition would deprive the
bill of great deal of its moral value,
concessions are to be expected
If these are not made, lack of unity
with regard to the administration
foreign policy is likely to become in
creasingly apparent. And this outcome.
at the present critical juncture, both the
White House and the Department of
State are anxious to avoid.
In all this development there is a
certain moral, by no means overlooked
in Congress. 1t is that an underlined
foreign policy particularly one which
Is deemed likely to involve the Nation
in war. arouses first suspicion and
then a hostility which must be reckoned
with in democracy.
Bill Has Influential Backing.
The lease-lend bill in its original form
has most influential backing and the
metropolitan press is almost unanimous
in its support. But, in the minds of
many Congressman, this does not offset
the less articulate mistrust demonstrated
in a steadily increasing volume of per-
sonal protests which may be misguided
but are certainly sincere.
Much of this mistrust would be dis
sipated if it could be shown that the
bill, whatever the risks involved therein,
40 GA4C LII SG OlS olCP III lOIlS- dllSC
program looking towards constructive
American leadership in a more ordered
world.
No administration leader has as yet
publicly argued that this is the case.
The preamble of the bill says vaguely
that it is intended ito promote the
defense of the United States, and for
other purposes" And this same rather
negative attitude has characterized all
the testimony in its behalf. There has
been much assertion that the measure
Is essential to safeguard American in
stltutions. There has been no attempt
to demonstrate that it is designed as
q positive contribution towards the per-
manent improvement of world disorder.
For two important reasons this is un-
fortunate. In the first place the con-
ventlonal arguments for the bill convey
an unpleasant intimation of mistrust
as to the self-reliance and strength of
the United States. In the second place
these arguments fail to convey the
thought that the United States has a
definite duty towards the civilization of
which this country is a component part.
False Psychology Involved.
Both counts involve false psychology.
The American people are not towards
and by and large they refuse to be
panicked by loud assertions that the
fate of Poland lies in store for us, or by
suggestions that st. Louis is vulnerable
to bombers coming by a circuitous route
from Africa and South America. All
these hair-raising predictions may be
justified. But since their effect is to
stimulate timidity and encourage a form
of national jitters, the desira bility of the
approach is questionable.
The mistake in failing to appeal to
the national sense of responsibility is
equally pronounced. For while Ameri-
cans are not towards they are idealists,
reacting promptly and energetically to
calls upon that faith in progress and
those aspirations for human betterment
which are so deeply rooted in our ma
tional temperament.