The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-01-31
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CONvOYS FOR SHIPS
no BRITAIN

WASHINGTON. - Advisers who
have talked to the President during
the last four months say that he
has gone through q significant tran
sition regarding aid to Britain, also
regarding a more aggressive policy
toward Japan.
Last August, for instance, Sec
retaries Stimson, Knox and Morgen-
thau, who have strong influence on
international policy, wanted Roose-
welt to bar all oil shipments to Japan.
But the state department persuaded
Roosevelt to the contrary.
Several months later, when the
duke of Windsor flew to visit Roose-
welt during his Caribbean cruise, the
duke put up to him the desperate
plight Of British shipping and asked
Tor American naval conveys to pro-
tect British ships across the Allan
tic. To this the President gave an
emphatic No.
1t was at approximately the same
time that the late Lord Lothian
came back from England and sub
mitted list Of the naval vessels
Britain would need to maintain her
lifeline of supplies from the u. S. A.
The list included not only destroy
ers, but four cruisers of the Omaha
class.
Lord Lothian did not actually ask
for these ships. He merely listed
the vessels which Britain desper-
ately needed. But Roosevelt contin-
ued to shy away from the idea of
conveying British ships with u. S.
naval vessels.
Later certain White House advis-
ers. including such powerful figures
as Secretaries Knox and Stimson,
pointed out that the British navy
had lost a terrific toll of men, did
not even have enough seamen to
man the American average destroy
ers. What Britain needed was ships
manned by the U. S. navy.
The British picture was also made
depressing by the difficulty of fin
ishing work on vessels in British
shipyards. Two battleships of the
King George class were launched
last spring, but since then no ship
Of any Importance has come off the
ways. Reason is that the lombard
ment OF Britain began in earnest last
summer, and shipyards have been
one Of the main targets. Since the
yards are exposed, they have SUI
Tered much more than factories.
AS result, ships have been
bombed, patched up, then bombed
again.
Another development is that with.
in the last 10 days in the Mediter-
ranean, where the British have lost
the equivalent Of seven ships. The
Southampton was sunk, the nlustri-
Gus was put out of commission,
and five others damaged so badly
that repairs will take two or three
months. Repairs are difficult in the
Mediterranean, because Malta is
under constant bombardment and
the naval base at Gibraltar is small.
Meanwhile, German bombers,
realizing that the strength of the
British feet in the Mediterranean
is the key to victory, have taken
over Italian bases and are raining
destruction on the royal navy.
1t was the succession of these de-
velopments which began to change
Roosevelt's mind about U. S. naval
conveys for British shipping.
Note-No commitments have been
given the British, and no policy has
been definitely decided for convoy
ing British ships. But advisers be-
ieve the President will adopt such
o policy if permitted by congress.
SCURRILOUS LITERATURE
4 -
coming report of the senate cam
paign fund investigating committee
will be an expose of scurrilous lit
erature disseminated in last years
hectic presidential battle. A 500
page "scrapbook" of exhibits has
been assembled by Harold Buckles,
committee investigator, from all
over the country.
While partisans of both candidates
resorted to this type of literature,
more than 30 per cent Of Buckles
collection is anti-Roosevelt. Also, OF
466 typical exhibits, one-hah are
wholly anonymous or only vaguely
identified.
The committee lists 1875 such
groups, of which Ill were pro-Will-
kie and % pro-Roosevelt. Only six OF
the 135 fled reports of their con-
tributions and expenditures with the
clerk Of the house. This failure to
report is a violation of the law and
carries heavy penalties.
Dominant theme of the scurrilous
literature Is racial and religious
prejudice. More than go per cent of
the committees exhibits harp on
this, 10 per cent played up the war
issue, and is per cent leveled foul
personal attacks on the candidates.
Note - Committee investigators
are Of the private opinion that not
less than 100000 was spent for
this material.
MERRY GO-ROUND
Sam Pryor, ball-bearing-tongued
national committeeman from Con-
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