Evening star., 1941-02-08
Konson Proposes
OutriehtG Gift to
Help Britain
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

Hcan presidential candidate, told
the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee today he would favor
an outright gift of from one to
four billion dollars for aid to
England. He opposed delegation
to the President of the power
contained in the lease lend bill,
which he described as a guess
and be damned policy"
Throughout his testimony, Mr.
Landon sharply criticized President
Roosevelt for his attacks on Sena-
tor Wheeler. Democrat, of Montana,
q leader of the opposition.
During two hours of examination
by committee members, however,
the witness reiterated his support of
aid to England with money and ma
terials that will not involve us in
war"
Mr.. Landon contended that free
dom of debate and discussion on the
bill is being discouraged in America
by the flood of Government propa-
ganda and war hysteria."
Uses Word "Dastardly."
He used the word "dastardly" in
discussing what he called Mr.. Roose-
velt's systematic attempt" to "si-
lence" Senator Wheeler and weaken
his influence"
Recalling that Mr.. Landon CO.
operated with President Roosevelt on
foreign affairs by attending the
Lima Conference on Pan-American
Affairs two years ago. Senator Clark,
Democrat, of Missouri. asked:
Isn't it true, Governor, that you
went as far as you felt you could
with the PRESIDENT"
Yes. sir, that is why I'm opposing
this BILL" Mr.. Landon answered.
And you quit when he proposed
8 policy that would get us into war
and establish pictorial poWers?"
Yes" Mr.. Landon answered.
Appearing as one of the last oppo-
sition witnesses, the former Kansas
Governor charged the powers in the
bill go beyond the aid to Britain
promised by both President Roose-
welt and Wendell L. Wlllkie in the
recent campaign.
There was nothing even remotely
hinted in the last campaign that
we were to gamble on being in
volved in war" Mr.. Landon testi-
fed.
Stop Pooling Around, He Says.
"If it is necessary, if it is essential
TO our security, that England win
this war, then let's stop fooling
around with this lease-lend bill. Mr.
Landon asserted. IF we intend to
tell England the Yanks are coming.
the sooner we let England know it.
the better we can coordinate our
activities with theirs.
IF the Yanks are not coming. the
English are entitled to know that.
If an English victory is not essen
tial to our security. then the only
fair and descent thing to do is to
say to Britain we will help you
with money and materials only. and
it is your job to get them A simple
IlUll ID al lIldI 10 llCCuCo
If that is our only purpose, and it
would be agreed to practically
unanimously"
In referring to the battle of words
carried on recently between the
President and Senator Wheeler Mr.
Landon said:
And when we have reached a
time when even an able United
States Senator cannot lift his voice
in opposition to the Chief Executive
without undergoing systematic at
tack to weaken his influence, I think
it is time to protest.
Wants Issues Debated.
Even in these troublesome times,
with the civilization we believe is
cracking before our eyes, I think it
is all to the good to argue things
out, even though the public does
wobble around once in a while. In
the long run, the peoples collective
judgment must be right more often
than wrong, if the Republic is to live
Many of those who are for all-out
aid to England say, of course, we
must debate, but hurry, hurry,
hurry and by innuendo and the
sly turn of the adjective, these at
tempt to throw on the opposition
the smoldering cry of partisanship or
personality as the actuating force
behind the opposition to this bill.
The Chief Executive has led the
h, lotlrlipn tho nhorna nf
pro-German at leader of opposi-
tion in the United States Senate,
Senator Wheeler of Montana
IF this were to go unnoticed and
unchallenged, there would soon be no
brakes on the Chief Executive. That
Is not healthy at any time and under
any President in a republic"
I am not afraid of taxation" )"
Mr.. Landon said in his statement,
"dncidentally l am more afraid that
taxation will not be increased. even
though it lowers the standard of
living and gives us a life of priva-
ton, but I do not want to live in a
country where personal liberty of
expression. by direct or indirect
means, is being denied any citizen"
Apparently referring to attacks
made on Senator Wheeler at the
time of the oil scandals during the
Harding administration, Mr.. Landon
said:
IT have always believed that one
(See HEARING, Page A-3)
49, -Denrea 7emneynturo