Evening star., 1941-03-02
By ]. A. O'LEARY.

The Senate agreed last night
to meet an hour earlier tomorrow
to speed up the British aid bill,
but with no assurance of a final
vote this week.
Majority Leader Barkley got
unanimous consent to convene at
II am, instead of noon, after
another day of talk at the Capt.
tol and over the radio, marked
by the following high lights:
During four more hours OF verbal
fitting with proponents, Senator
Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana,
arch foe of the bill, declared re
sponsible officials of the Govern
ment," whom he did not name, have
told him I'VE must set up totali-
tartan government in the United
States in order to fight totalitarian
governments across the water"
On the air last night Senator
Hill, Democrat, of Alabama asserted
Senator Wheeler was lust as wrong
and just as wild" in predictions
he made when the conscription bill
was passed "as he is today when
he says that the lease-lend bill
is war bill"
Lucas Defends Bill.
Senator Lucas. Democrat, of IL
linois, following Senator Wheeler
on the Senate floor, defended the
lease-lend bill, declaring the dicta-
torship charge is the same familiar
cry heard many times during the
past eight years-"and still we in
America are without a dictator"
Administration leaders hope the
opposition will let them get down
this week to the real battle over
amendments, but unless some time
limitation is placed on debate the
controversy over half a dozen of
the more important proposed
changes could easily consume an
other 10 days or two weeks.
Thus far the leaders have made
no move to curb debate or hold
night sessions, the apparent strategy
being to deprive the isolationists Of
ally OPpOI lI4lAIJ W SAo1AiAA PACoSAAc .
methods.
Some observers are convinced,
however, that when amendments
are taken up much of the ground
already covered in general debate
will be retraced on such major pro-
posals as these:
The Ellender arrsndment, to de-
0ln ho in a
the President additional power to
send armed forces outside this
hemisphere-a proposal supporters
of the bill believe they have small
margin of votes to defeat,
Brewster Offers Compromise.
The several amendments to re-
strict the transfer of naval vessels.
including a new compromise offered
yesterday by Senator Brewster, Re-
publican, of Maine. Senator Brew
ster offers middle course between
those who would prohibit any more
transfers and those who would
leave the question to the discretion
of the President. His amendment
seeks to permit transfer of de-
stroyers or larger ships only as fast
as new ones are built. so that the
United States Navy would not fall
below its tonnage on the date the
bill passes.
The several amendments seek
to tighten up the ban on trans
portation of goods to Europe in
American ships, or conveying oy
American naval vessels
Majority Leader Barkley said last
night those in charge of the bill
have made no agreements or con-
cesSionS on these major amend
mentS.
The only change to which he said
there appeared to be no objection
is the Lucas amendment to set up
an advisory congressional group to
consult with the President, at his
invitation, in carrying out the aid
program
From other sources, however, 1t
was learned the majority is in
clined to accept the Byrd amend
ment to require Congress to specify
when it passes future defense ap-
preparations what part, if any,
would be available for aid to other
(See BRITISH AID, Page A-24)