Evening star., 1941-02-18
British Aid Bill
Is AssaiIed by
Vandenberg
White House 9. H. Q.
For World War II,
Senator Charges
Earlier Story on Page A-1.)
BY GOTLD LINCOLN

of Michigan, speaking in the Senate
In opposition to the lease-lend bill
in its present form, today urged
adoption of middle ground" and
charged that the British-aid legis-
lation would make President Roose-
welt power politician No. of the
world"
The White House has become the
CHG general headquarters) for
the second world war" the veteran
legislator thundered.
Time and again the phrase power
politician No. l of the world" rang
out as the Senator assailed the
legislation.
Senator Vandenberg foresaw an
approaching crisis" for England,
but declared there was precious
little" that could be done about it
through the British aid bill, unless
this country went to war.
Defines Middle Ground.
A middle ground said Senator
Vandenberg 'is bounded Cd by the
solemn pledge to America that we
will not participate in foreign wars
unless attacked; (2) by the in
evitably implied corollary that we
will avoid policies that could literally
ask for our direct involvement; 80
by maximum productive aid to
the allies which does not diSsipate
the essential nucleus of our own de-
tense with which to make good on
our promise to defend this Western
World-Canada primarily intended
and with which to face our poten-
tial enemies in two oceans; and "a
by the fullest possible constitutional
cooperation of the whole Govern
ment, including direct congressional
action, in those momentous, major
decisions. which, in effect, will de-
termine the peace and security of
10000 600 people for years to come"
The Michigan Senator gave in de-
tail his reasons for believing that
the country would be led into par
ticipation in the present war abroad
under the terms of the lease-lend
bill and that freedom would cease
to exist in this country as soon as
it became involved in the war.
Insists Bill Is Not Essential.
He insisted that the bill was not
essential if aid to Britain short of
war" was the only desired end; that
such aid could be given without the
legislation.
Senator Vandenberg followed Sem
ator Clark, Democrat, of Missouri in
the debate today. The Missouri
Senator declared his opposition to
the passage of the bill also on the
ground that it meant war and that
it would mean dictatorship in this
country.
This is not a defense bill at ALL"
Senator Clark declared, holding the
floor as the first opposition speaker
in the Senate debate over the meas
ure. This is war bill. This is a
bill to implement and put in motion
processes almost certain to result in
war"
He contended that the measure
amounted to guaranteeing a mill
tary victory by one belligerent over
another"
I'VE all know" he said, that that
is equivalent to a declaration Of a
state Of war ourselves and must be
followed up by sending our ships, our
planes and our guns and ultimately
our men. Once committed we can
not turn aside"
Senator Clark spoke after Senator
johnson, Republican. of California
asserted formally that the bill would
make President Roosevelt "a dicta-
tor or worse"
Nye Joins in Attack.
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota, Joined in the attack on the
legislation by demanding to know
whether President Roosevelt was
entertaining the notion of perma-
nent alliance with Great Britain"
Some Americans of 1941," Sem
ator Nye said, after Senator VAN
denberg's speech, seem determined
to attain a new alliance with Brit
ain. They would have us make
such alliances as will insure partici-
patton again in the hates, the fears,
the suspicious and the wars which
have kept Europe on the lower
rungs of the ladder of progress
through these very eras that have
found our country moving upward
and upward.
Through a legislative proposal
known as H. R. 1776, los years after
a 1776 that led to glory, they would
authorize a President to make an
immediate alliance with any power
upon this earth that he alone may
choose as an ally, give them our
purse, our machinery of defense" >"
Il wonder if by any chance the
President is entertaining, as some
are entertaining, the notion Of an
alliance of a permanent order with
Great Britain, with the English
speaking peoples of the world, to
the end that there could be an ade-
quate poll aaSg of the entire world?"
Ellender Offers Amendment.
Senator Ellender, Democrat, of q,
Louisiana introduced an amendment
which he said would put Congress
on record as opposed to sending the
Navy or armed forces outside of
the Western Hemisphere, except to
territories and possessions of this
country.
MY only purpose is to allay the
fears of millions of American moth
ers and others that this bill is
granting the executive department
-