Evening star., 1941-01-13

some other specified period" he
added, that's another matter"
House Majority Leader McCor.
mack, who participated in the press
conference, said that he thought
some suggestions" for amending the
British aid measure had been from
the constructive angle"
Concessions Seen.
Mr.. Mccormack did not define
which suggestion he had in mind
He indicated that administration
forces probably would be wiling to
make some concessions in regard tc
the legislation.
"All legislation has to make the
congressional Journey" Mr. Nc
Cormack said, land go through the
perfecting process"
Speaker Rayburn said that he
considered Mr.. Wendell Willkie S
reaction was very favorable"
Mr.. WILKES statement brought a
comment from ALT M Landon in To-
peka, Kans., that IF Mr.. Willkie had
revealed that to be his position
before the Republican National Con-
vention he would not have been
nominated"
Mr.. Willkie and President Roose-
welt hold essentially the same posi-
ton, Mr.. Landon asserted, adding,
That is, We must get into the war
If necessary to help England win.
HILL no,I.,.os
Secretary of State Hull declined
at his press conference to comment
on the proposal for a time limit on
the Presidents powers or other
mechanics of the measure. explain
ing that his public discussions would
be confined to broad questions of
foreign policy and the development
of state of danger against which
the Nation is seeking to protect
itself
Asked whether he expected to
confer with Mr.. Willkie before or
after the latter leaves for an an
nounced trip to London, MI Hull
said that was matter that would
be left to Mr.. Willkie.
He said he approved the issuance
of passport to Mr.. Willkic for his
visit to England because the Repub-
ncan leader was an outstanding citi-
zen and leader of public thought and
he could see nothing in conflict with
the objective of such a person in
seeking information at 1rst hand.
Regulations adopted since the be-
ginning of the European var forbid
passports to private citizens for trips
into the combat area except on
urgent" business.
Time Limit Favored.
Mr.. Wilkes suggestion for set
ting time limit on the British aid
bill found backing among Republi-
can Senate leaders, who advocated
a tWo-year period. Their proposed
amendment was one of host being
drafted by members of both branches
of Congress.
Rejecting myriad of interpreta-
tions of the bills broad language,
most amendments being drawn were
aimed at degeneralizing" the virtual
wartime powers it grants to the
President. Others were designed to
insure against jeopardizing domestic
defense preparations while Ameri-
can-made guns. tanks. planes and
ships were going to England and
perhaps Greece and China.
Chairman George of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, who
said he "unqualifiedly" approved the
measures objectives, predicted Mr..
Roosevelt would favor an amend
ment specifying that foreign bene-
fciaries provide reasonable secur-
ity" in the form of goods needed by
the United States such as tin and
rubber.
AS in the days before Congress re-
wrote the Neutrality Act to premit
munitions to 60 to belligerents on
"cash-and-carry" basis, advocates
and opponents took to the radio last
night to give a foretaste of the
formal debates to come.
Senator Wheeler. Democrat, of
Montana, who is organizing an op-
position bloc in the Senate, said
during a radio forum that approval
of the bill means war-open and
complete warfare"
Senator Lee. Democrat, of Okla
homa, taking the other side, asserted:
America has only one chance to
escape total war and that chance is
England. England is the only bar
rier between America and a baptism
of blood"
Cabinet Members to Testify.
Secretaries Hull, Morgenthau,
Stimson and Knox are expected to
be the first witnesses before the
House and Senate committees.
Senator George said his purpose
was to get the bill onto the Senate
floor as rapidly as possible" but
whether his committee would go
ahead Immediately depended on how
long it appeared the House group
would take Chairman Bloom said
he hoped to complete hearings in
three days.
Senator George told reporters
that with Overwhelming sentiment
very favorable for the objective" Of
the legislation, the main contests
would be "over alleged unnecessary
grant of dictatorial powers and
claims that adequate safeguards are
not set up against abuse of the
powers or for the protection of the
American taxpayer"
Senator Clark, Democrat. of Idaho,
an opponent of the measure, said he
would favor "all limitations on the
Presidents power designed to pre-
serve integrity of Congress"
He said that committees should
develop the amount of money neces-
sary for the projected program and
that ceiling" on expenditures
should be inserted.
Senator Clark and several other
opponents declared there should be
no filibuSter against the hill