Evening star., 1941-01-21

uletlDeIS TO near MI. henneQy an
swer barrage of questions on every
phase Of the radio speech he made
Saturday night.
Mr.. Kennedy said BritainS whole
condition would be serious and vital
this year If her shipping losses con-
tinue at the rate of last month.
Fish Questions Kennedy.
Citing the testimony of cabinet
officers last week that the British
Isles Will face a crisis in 60 or 90
days. Representative Fish. Repub-
hCan, of New York asked Mr.. Ken
nedy to comment.
Il think there has been crisis in
England since September. 1899 tthe
start Of the war;, Mr Kennedy be-
San. Il think it became acute last
June. If it is meant that England
Will fall in 80 or so days, I don't
know on what that is based"
He explained the question was diff
flCult to answer unless he knew Wha,
was meant by crisis
Mr.. Fish, leader of the House
opposition to the lease-lend bill, in
qulred as to England's economic anc
financial condition.
That is very difficult question.
said Mr.. Kennedy. I read the
statement presented the other day
by Secretary Of the Treasury Nor
genthau, and that would seem to
indicate they are not yet exhausted,
referring to England'S financial re-
sources
Mr Fish's first effort to put MI
Kennedy on record in favor of
changing the bill did not produce
very positive results.
Would you favor amending the
bill to prevent the giving away part
Of our Navy?" asked Mr.. Fish.
We'll, as I said on the radio, am
a great believer in authority going
with responsibility" Mr.. Kennedy
replied, and I Just can't believe
there is anybody in America who
would give away the Navy"
The Ambassador offered no pre-
pared statement as he took the
stand, and several times during his
long examination he made it clear
that he is not opposed to the CEN
trall5ing Of authority in the bill
He told Representative Eaton. Re-
publican, OF New Jersey that he Is
mot fearing invasion OF any kind"
In the United States.
When Representative kee. Demo-
crat, Of West Virginia sought to
bring out that the bill as it stands
would not allow American convoys.
Mr.. Kennedy said there may be
honest differences Of opinion as TO
the exact meaning Of provisions in
the bill. He said his opposition TO
conveys Is based on the testimony
Of Secretary Of the Navy Knox that
conveys would be an act of war.
Since 1 am opposed to getting
into the war, I would oppose that"
Mr.. Kennedy added He said he did
not understand that the bill au-
thorlzeS conveys. but he is not an
expert on the bill.
1t vas while Mr.. Kee was seeking
to ascertain how far the Ambassador
would go in changing the bill that
Mr.. Kennedy advanced the sugees-
ton for small committee" from
Congress to cooperate with the
President.
Differences Considered Slight.
He declared that we are all
agreed On aiding Great Britain" and
indicated he did not think differ
ences over the details of the bill
were very great.
Questioned on the possibility of a
crisis in the next so or 90 DAYS.
Mr.. Kennedy said there were many
things in the military situation
which he did not understand.
Il have never understood, for in
stance, why the German Army per-
mltted a British Army of 100000 to
escape from Dunkerque," he said.
If the German air force was as
strong as they claimed, he contin-
ued, he thought they had a perfect
chance to annihilate that British
force.
The diplomat said also he could
not understand why the Germans
had not wrought greater destruction
in Britain's industrial centers.
"If they have the strength to cap
ture the air he said. the crisis
might come any day So far, they
haven't indicated they have that
strength"
Representative Fish asked Mr..
Kennedy whether he knew the war
aim of the British.
I certainly don't, sir" the Ambas-
sador replied.
Question for State Department.
When Mr.. Fish asked whether Mr..
kennedy thought something ought
to be done to let this country know
the nature of those war aims before
proceeding with further aid to Brit
ain, Mr.. Kennedy said he did not
understand the question and sug-
gested it was one for the State De-
partment.
Representative Fish asked what
Mr.. Kennedy thought of Winston
Churchill's statement that, as Mr..
Fish put it, England needed no
help from us in 1941." Mr.. Kennedy
said 1t was rather strange"
prime Minister Churchill said
in a speech Friday night that
England's need in 1e41 was not
for men, but guns, ships and
planes)
Mr.. Fish then wanted to know
whether there was ANY truth" ir
reports that England is going So
cialist."
Mr.. Kennedy said that the Labor
and Socialist parties were becoming
more important and added that mo-
body has the right to assume that
conditions will ever go back to what
they were"
Mr.. Kennedy aroused the audi
>nce to applaud with his statement
that anything that Congress voted
and the President approved would
meet my approval 100 per cent"
Convoy Question Discussed.
Mr.. Fish said Secretary Knox had
told the committee the conveying
OF merchant ships to England by
the American Navy would be an
act of war
"Dn Won fbipk tbot mould =. ~