Evening star., 1941-01-13

expected here
the fact that it David Lawrence.
can happen is a military contin-
gency.
Suppose Britain were suddenly
overrun as was France, what would
happen to the British fleet? The
average American has assumed that
the British ships would take refuge
In American ports and harbors. But
could Congress be called into session
promptly enough or, If in session,
could time be taken in the midst of
such a crisis to debate Americas
course?
The logical action to be taken
In such an emergency is to receive
all the British battleships, auxiliary
craft and airplanes into American
harbors and bases and to make
them a part of the United States
Navy. Logically also there would be
no use building all the proposed
additional battleships in our pres
ent program if America overnight
receives ready-made battleships.
British Navy as Collateral.
But how could such a deal be
consummated at once? Under the
terms of the pending lend and
lease" bill, the President of the
United States could make a trade
at once with Britain giving the
latter plenty of planes and am
munition and tanks and guns and
taking In exchange the promise of
any weapon, warship or material
which the British government may
own. If the British navy itself be-
comes in effect collateral for Ameri-
can loans or leases of military
weapons. the United States can
protect itself against the contin-
gency so often envisaged of British
feet falling into the hands Of the
Nazis.
How could America be sure Of
such an acquisition? The French
government did not have time to
make such a deal with the London
government when the crisis came.
Perhaps the President has already
discussed this latter with the Brit
ish. 1t is the kind of thing the
Presidents personal representative,
such as Harry Hopkins is today, in
London might we'll be taking up
with Prime Minister Churchill. 1t
Is not the sort of proposal that
is given publicity and, if it were,
1t is Just the kind of discussion
that would be officially denied. For
to confirm it is to give Berlin the
Idea that the British do not expect
their own success when as matter
of fact it may be only the American
Presidents way of making sure
that the aid the United States Is
giving will not be used against us
If the fortunes of war turn against
the British.
The pending bill in Congress for
this and doubtless many other rea-
sons of a delicate nature is drawn
In the broadest possible terms. The
chief opposition to the measure is
not really what appears on the
surface For the leaders and rank
and file of both political parties
want all aid extended to Britain.
The basic fear of the opposition is
that the President may use the
power to accomplish nationaliza-
ton and Specialization of Amer
lean industry and to break down
the private enterprise system. Mr.
Roosevelt would Indignantly deny
such intent, but his opponents
have profound distrust of him
and his public statements. He
has only himself to blame for
this state of affairs, because he re-
tains in his cabinet and in his en-
tourage men with a deStructionist
philosophy and an Indictment to
hatred and he doesn't lift a finger
to get rid of them Just why Mr..
Roosevelt stubbornly insists on ig-
noring criticism and protests in this
direction is difficult to understand,
for surely his place in history will
be marked by his ability to bring
national unity out of disunity.
DistruSt OF Opposition.
On the Presidents side the argu-
ment is made that he distrusts his
opposition. He assumes that delay
and dilatory tactics are weapons
which would be used in Congress
against his international policies if
he had to act quickly in an emer-
eency. He is convinced that he
never would have gotten the con-
sent of Congress to sending the
50 overage destroyers last summer
except after long and dangerous de-
lay by debate if he had made for
NAL request. He doesn't accuse his
opponents of being influenced by
the Nazi agents in this country, but
he openly said in his fireside chat
that many of his opponents behave
exactly as these Nazi agents would
have them behave II they could
reach them.
II some one who had not aroused
class hatreds and cleavages were in
the White House. if bitterness didn't
exist today in almost as intense a
degree as it did during the last cam
paign, If the President did not allow
himself to be constantly needed"
BY cabinet members and others in