Evening star., 1941-02-08

now oenOunce, as equally daS-
tardly, the systematic attempt OF
another Chief Executive to silence
his voice and blacken his reputation
The difference of opinion on this
bill think is the difference in views
as to what Is the best interest OF
America.
We must have deliberation In the
Congress and speed in the fac
tories.
have seen no claim that this
bill Is to be any help In our first
job IN industrial production for
national defense and aid to Britain
There has been no showing that
present executive powers are in
adequate to bring defense produc-
ton to its peak. Yet Congress Is
asked to delegate more power when
the President has not exhausted the
powers already possible.
Those who are for the lease and
lend bill have the surface advantage
of emotional. sentimental, and ethi-
cal feelings and argument We who
are opposed to the bill are not aware
that the dearest ideals of America
are endangered. We realize the
menace to America caused by the
tragic economic and spiritual col
lapse in most of the world. We
realize the greater the Nation, the
more progressive and advanced it be
in terms of industry and communi-
cation, the more certain and more
| gravely it is bound to be effected
I, for one, have always believed
that effective isolation of such a Ma
ton from the affairs of the rest of
the world is impossible.
Does Not Mean Guaranteeing
British Victory.
AS have said, several years ago,
"the duty of leadership in the main
tenance OF democracy plainly de-
| wolves, in large measure, on us"
That does not mean guaranteeing
British victory. I also said that
commerce under completely con-
trolled arrangements has potential
meanings and effects, far different
from those of the ordinary private
commercial arrangements to which
we in the United States are accus-
toned. In other words. State con-
trolled barter takes the place of
bayonetS.
While streSSing the economic
think we must recognize that dis
tribution Of healthy economic oppor-
tunitv is impossible without removal
OF the paralyzing fear of another
war just ahead
The lease and lend bill IS an
omnibus bill. I might be pardoned,
attempting to discuss 1t in detail
when even members of the Presi-
dents cabinet have been unable to
answer the questions of the COM
mittees of the House and Senate
as to clear-cut definition of its pow
erS, or even the omnibus parentage
of the measure.
l might cite in this connection
statement placed in the Congress
sional Record by Senator Barkley
of Kentucky. In that statement this
sentence appears:
1T does not, however, authorize
the Use of American vessels to de-
liver war materials to combat zones"
This statement may be correct.
but the language of section 3.
% subsection (2) raises doubt in
my own mind as to the complete
accuracy of the statement. This
section reads:
g. (a) Notwithstanding the pro-
visions of any other law. the Presi-
dent may, from time to time, when
he deems it in the interest of ma
tional defense, authorize the Secre-
tary of War, the Secretary of the
Navy. or the head of any other
department or agency of the Gov
ernment-
"(2) To sell. transfer, exchange
lease, lend or otherwise dispose of.
to any such government any defense
article
Calls Attention
To Word Transfer.
would call attention of the COM
mittee to the word transfer. The
language of the section is not trans !
fer title, or transfer possessions-the .
word stands by itself. transfer
I find in Websters New Interna-
tional Dictionary of the English |
Language the following definition
of the verb transfer: /
Transfer, verb, transitive: l. !
To carry from one place, person, or .
thing, to another; to transport. re-
move, or cause to pass, to another
place, person. or thing"
Now I am inclined to believe that
Attorney General jackson, if asked
by the President If this language
authorized him to direct that war
materials be transported, would
have to go no farther than the plain
and primary meaning of the word
transfer to rule that it means
transport And a simple next step
would be to hold that, considering
the general and very broad pur-
poses of the act, that would include
using American ships to transport
the defense articles. "notWithstand-
ing the provisions of any other law"
AufOtdJco VI Glllo lHCdouiC iidNc
pointed out, time and again, that
the President already has the power
to direct the conveying of any ves-
sells by the United States Navy, un-
der his general powers as COM
mander in chief of the Army and
Navy-I admit that.
Then, think logically, that if this
bill gives the authority to direct that
defense articles be transported to
any other nation. the President, if
he directed such transport in Amer
lean vessels, would be bound to pro-
vide these vessels with protection
through conveys.
In other words, have serious
doubts if, after the bill became law,
the Attorney General would feel
bound to follow the simple state
ment of Senator Barkley that lit
does not, however, authorize the use
Of American vessels to deliver war
materials to the combat zone"
Cited as One Instance
OF Bills Possibilities.
cite this as merely one instance
Of the possibilities of this bill, none
4