Evening star., 1941-01-05
President Busy
With Messages
For Congress
Plon for Corporation
To Handle U. S. Aid TO
Britain Is Reported
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

Two hlStOry-maklng pronounce
ments to the 77th Congress were
engaging the full attention of Presi-
dent Roosevelt this week end as
reports were heard on Capitol Hill
that a huge new Government cor
poration might be created to handle
the projected lease-lend program Of
aid to Britain
First of the Presidents messages,
that on the state of the Union, will
be delivered by Mr.. Roosevelt in
person before a joint session of the
House and Senate tomorrow after
noon. The second. the projected
budgetary program for the fiscal
year 1912, will be sent to Congress
by the President Wednesday.
With the wars of the world in
fiuencing every Government plan
and policy. congressional leaders
who have visited the White House
during the last few days have in
dicated tomorrow's message will
accord its major emphasis to steps
proposed for mobilizing the Nation :
military and industrial defenseS and
for aiding the democratic powers
now resisting the totalitarian states.
OF secondary Importance, perhaps,
will be an outline of purely domestic
concern. expected TO include pro-
posals for preserving and solidify-
ing the social gains recorded during
the first two Roosevelt terms.
To Seek Broad Authority.
More specifically, il has been IN
dicated that in tomorroWs address
the President will make his formal
request for authority to initiate his
plan of leasing war materials TO
belligerent nation. designed TO open
the road TO greater aid to Britain
and perhaps Greece and China,
Thus far. Mr. Roosevelt has re-
vealed no details of this plan or the
legislation needed. other than to say
his only concern is to obtain broad
authority by which two friendly
nations" would be permitted TO
work out an exchange of war equip
ment for articles Of commensurate
value
Democratic leaders at the Capitol,
asked about the reports that new
Federal corporation would be estab-
lished. said legislation to carry out
the administrations proposal 10
lend or lease approximately $1,000
100000 worth of supplies and muni-
tions to Great Britain was still IN
the formative stage.
Such a corporation. Senate Ma
| jority Leader Barkley CONNER ed
would be feasible but might nc Sc
essential"
Lengthy Debate Predicted.
Senator Barkley indicated the
plan would require amending the
Neutrality Act prohibiting the fur
nishing of munitions to belligerents
! except on a cash basis He also said
! the enabling act must be very gen.
eral in its grants of powers to the
Chief Executive.
With a vociferouS group in Con-
gress gathering support to oppose
the British aid plan. Senator Bark
ley predicted that it would ulti-
mately pass, but after a lengthy
/ debate.
Several in the opposition camp,
including Senator Wheeler. Demo-
crar, of Montana. reiterated their
contention that the plan was but
another step leading to actual par
ticlpation in the war
Addressing an "anti-war" delega-
ton at the Capitol, Senator Wheeler
asserted that the plan was 'idiotic"
When you lease or loan you're
buying an interest in the war" the
Montanan declared. Some people
say it is our war. If it's our war,
how can We justify loaning them
stuff ard asking them to pay us
back?
If its our war. We ought to have
the courage TO go over and fight it
but it isn't our war
The group of about 10 which
called at the Capitol said they rep
resented the American Peace
Mobilization
Darden Calls For Full Aid.
On the other hand. Representative
Darden, Democrat. of Virginia called
in a statement for assistance, "im-
mediately and without reserve" to
Great Britain.
"If we refuse or fail by indecision
to make available the help so des-
perately needed in this ominous
hour" Mr.. Darden said, we shall.
I believe, have placed the ultimate
security and the safety of the Amer
ican people in the gravest jeopardy"
Integrating his message to Con-
gress with his widely heard fire
side chat" of last Sunday night,
Mr.. Roosevelt also is expected to
return in some detail to his remark
then that we must be the great
arsenal of democracy under condi-
tions of emergency as serious as If
we were actually at war.
Proposals for protecting present
social gainS-a broadening of the
Federal social security program
is one of those already Indicated
are expected to constitute follow-up
to his Sunday night pledge that the
strength of this Nation shall not
be diluted by the failure of the
Government to protect the economic
well-being of all citizens" At the
same time responsibilities as we'll
as privileges probably will be en-