Evening star., 1941-02-03
Predicts U. S. Entry
In Six Months if
Plan Is Unchanged
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

A momentous debate on the ad-
ministrations lease-lend bill for aid
to Britain was launched in the
House today, with Representative
Fish of New York, ranking Repub-
lican member of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, starting the fire
works with a denunciation of the
bill as now written as "war-dicta-
tor bankruptcy bill"
Mr.. Fish predicted the United
States will be involved in war in
Europe and Asia within six months
if the measure is approved without
change
The measure was strongly de-
Tended. on the other hand, by Chair
man Bloom of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, who declared it trans
lates into concrete form "our ma
tional policy of aid to Britain" He
denied fatty that it was war meas
ure and described the present ma
tional policy as follows:
1--WE are for staying out of physical
combat and we are for all possible
and effective material aid to Britain
and those other nations who are re-
sisting the forces of aggression"
Rule Allows Full Debate.
Debate on the bill was opened by
Mr.. Fish during consideration OF a
special rule for consideration OF the
measure in the House.
The rule presented by Chairman
SABBATH of the Rules Committee was
adopted with only one dissenting
vote. Representative Marcantonlo OF
New York. 1t provides for three-day
general debate and for presentation
of amendments.
Representative SABBATH declared
that the bill was not a war measure
as some of its opponents claimed
He tol dthe House that the President
has for months and years pleaded
for peace and urged peace. The peo-
pie. he continued, have confidence IN
the President, and the President has
never abused the powers which nave
been granted to him.
From reports I have been recelV-
ing" said Mr.. Fish. there is
rising tide of resentment against
this bill in the North and West. al
a camoufaged attempt TO get us into
war without requiring the consent
of Congress.
Would Keep War Powers in Congress
After weeks of hearings, l have
reached the conclusion that the
passage of the bill without further
amendments is war measure ano
would be a betrayal Of the constitu
tional power to declare war granted
solely to the Congress, and would al
the same time tend to destroy Amer
ican democracy and free government
in the United States.
THE members of Congress havt
a solemn and sacred responsibilit!
not to surrender the control OF the
sword or the purse to the Preslden
and thereby establish totalltarlar
system of government in America
1t would mean the beginning OF th'
end of our republican form of gov
ernment based on three separate
and independent departments o
government.
IF the Congress grants the Presl'
dent such sweeping and blanke
powers. it will have no more au
thority left than the German Reich
stag. There is no precedent fol
such action in peace or war in Amer
lea.
"a Mere Rubber Stamp"
"Henceforth the Congress woulc
be a mere rubber stamp to register
the DEGREES and edicts of the Presi'
dent. if he condescends to ask fol
them. I do not believe that tht
flame of liberty has burned so Low
that the Congress will knowingly
surrender its war-making powers Il
any one man. When the time comes
(See DEBATE, Page Aid