Evening star., 1941-01-07
British Aid Plea
Wins Support
In Congress
Some Members See
War in Roosevelt's
Defense Program
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Thus far in the todr american
aid to Britain has been almost
entirely on cash basis, ,o,th
the British government being
permitted and assisted in buying
mdteriel from American manu-
tacturers. Principal exception to
this formula Dds trade OF 50
American destroyers to Britain
for leases on eight Atlantic
Caribbean naval bases. Notp,
ho1DeDer, this Government is pre-. q,
pairing to finance manufacture Of
Udr equipment for lending on
leasing to the empire.
Is the Associated Press.
A surge of congressional senti-
ment for extensive British aid today
answered President Roosevelt's call
for swift and driving increase"
in armament production despite
some criticism that the program
would mean war.
The reaction generally bespoke
readiness to take up at the earliest
possible moment a detailed plan
under which billions of dollars
worth of the weapons of defense"
could be lent or leased to England
and other "democracies," as Mr..
Roosevelt recommended in his mes
sage yesterday.
Administration leaders already
were at work on the complicated
problem OF procedure and leeisla-
ton. The President was said to
have advised leaders that Congress
and the executive department
should collaborate in the task. with
the assurance that there would bs
no Quibbling over details.
Tax Increase TO Be Sought.
Submission of the 1912 Federal
budget tomorrow was awaited, mean
while, for the first indication Of
proportions of the overall program
Congress will learn then how much
money Mr.. Roosevelt wants i'm
mediately for the manufacture of
war supplies. The President also
said yesterday that his budget mes
sage would contain requests for
heavier defense taxation.
There was general support among
| legislators for vast funds to arm
America itself, but some division in
party ranks over the Presidents
proposal to make the United States
an arsenal for countries now in
actual war with aggressor nations ="
! Nevertheless. some leaders ap-
peared more concerned about the
length Of time that might be re-
quired to obtain final approval of
the British aid legislation than they
did with the opposition expected
against it.
One plan reported under con
sideration involved use OF FederS
corporation to assist the British in
liquidating their security holdings IN
this country, and perhaps to act ss
the clearing house for the whole
lease-lend program.
Undecided on Setup.
An informed legislator said that
administration and congressional
leaders were trying to decide
whether to set up an entirely new
corporation or to expand the present
| functions of either the ReconstruC-
ton Finance Corporation or the Ex-
port-Import Bank.
| Mr.. Roosevelt, delivering his an
nual message in person to the Sen
ators and Representatives in the
packed and attentive House Cham
Der, sought to remove any partisan
| character from the question by
pointing out that both major polit-
ical parties were in virtual agree
ment on British aid when they went
to the people in the election last
November.
Senator Austin Of Vermont, acting
Republican leader In the Senate
commended the address and later
| in q radio broadcast last night on
the National Radio Forum, arranged
by The Star, declared that the
American people were enlisted on
the side of Great Britain and were
preparing to pay the cost Of free.
dom If they have TO-"
Let no dictator" he said. get
the impression that Americans will
not fight"
(The text of Senator Austins
address is on Page Aid
On the other hand, Senator
Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana told
reporters that Mr.. Roosevelt's mes
saoe "uaS intended IN frirhtAn the