Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-28
Wheeler Fears
Grab Of Power
By President
PAGE 10
Special to THE DETROIT TIMES

Special to THE DETROIT TIMES
WASHINGTON. Jan. 28.-Sen-
ator Burton X. Wheeler CD OF
Montana, last night in a radio adj
dress denounced President Roose-
velt's lease-lend bill for aid to
Britain as wholly foreign to our
conception of government and
"foisted on the American people
through propaganda inspired by
foreign governments and interna-
tional bankers"
He spoke before the annual
meeting of the American Coali-
ton, an organization of patriotic
groups.
Senator Raymond E. Willis (R)
of Indiana. who also addressed the
meeting, wal 1 of the postwar
economic dangers facing this
country after peace is brought
about in Europe and Asia.
WHEELER ILL
Senator Wheeler, who left sick
bed to address the meeting, as
sailed the lend-lease bill as de-
signed to give President Roosevelt
1.-The power to wage undeclared
war"
He declared it was ironical to
call the bill II. r. 1776, because
this bill would tend to destroy that
independence of the republic for
which our forefathers fought;
ironical because the proponents OF
III. r. 1776 maintain that the
safety of the United States and
the preservation of our liberties
are dependent upon Great Brit
ain" He added:
During the past eight years
we have gone far down the road
toward one-man government. We
have granted to President ROOse-
welt more power than was ever
given to any peacetime presi-
dent In the history of this ma
ton. The American people and
the Congress have gratified the
Presidents every wish In order
that he might solve our domes-
tic problems.
WAR FOR BRITAIN
"But now the American peo-
pie are asked by III. r. 1776 to
give, in effect, to the President
of the United States the power
TO wage undeclared war, not In
the defense of our shores, our
freedom. or our Independence,
but In defense of foreign pow
ers.
"Once given such vast pow
ers-there will be no relinquish-
ment-and against the will OF
the Executive a tw0-thirds vote
Of Congress Is required to cur =
tail-restrict-Or repeal these
powers. Further or future ap-
preparations of money by Con-
gress are not necessary to make
effective this blanket authority"
Emphasizing the scope of the
Legislation, Wheeler declared:
Military or naval secrets,
however vital to American de-
Tense, may be given to q for
eign power by the President.
GIFTS GALORE
.In plain language, this bill
means that the President can
give to any foreign nation our
entire navy, our entire air force,
all our guns, all our tanks, all
our munitions. All our military
secrets can be disclosed to
Russia, to China, to Greece, to
England, or to any country,
though they are cautiously with
held from you, your senators and
your congressman"
Asking who drafted this leg
islation." Wheeler said:
mo member Of Congress. no
member of the cabinet. Who
are its secret authors? Who
placed IL in the hands of your
representatives for ntr due
ton: Was IL drafted by a little
D group of Wall Street lawyers or
s by the brain trusters?
n without know ing from
whence IL comes or where IL
will lead us, you, the American
people, are asked to swallow II
In the name of aiding Britain"
WARS AFTER-EFFECTs
: Senator Willis. in discussing the
: after-effects of war on American