Evening star., 1941-01-04

But-and here's the sanction for
It all-the President believes this
Is the way to keep the war from
our shores and to prevent the she'd
ding of a single drop of American
blood. He feels confident he has
back of him united public opinion.
Neutrality as previously known
has, of course, been discarded. The
session of Congress which has Just
convened will dispose OF the last
teChnicalitieS of neutrality and be-
gin furnishing materials and equip
ment to Britain in vast quantities.
The latest announcement concerns
q shipbuilding program of S35O,OOO,-
600. 1t is Mr. Roosevelt's answer
to the submarine menace which Is
slowly diminishing the tonnage OF
Britain. Very soon America Will
be able to put cargo ships into the
water faster than they are being
sunk, but Britain, in the meantime,
has ample reserves to keep her life
lines going.
BY diverting ships now flying the
British flag from the Pacific trade
and putting American ships at work
there, the tonnage in the North At
lantic will be increased for Britain
Atmosphere of Unity.
The Ioan-or- lease plan to send
planes. tanks. guns. bombs and even
food, if necessary, is being drafted.
There seems no question but that
after a brief debate it will be adopt
ed. The Republicans are ready to
co-operate with the President on war
issues. The atmosphere of unity is
reminiscent of that which prevailed
in Congress in 1917 and 1918.
So far as funds are concerned, the
Treasury will be expected to finance
all war orders before long, so that
the weapons of war will be Americas
property, loaned like fire hose to the
other democracies.
There is no way Of knowing when
France will be ready to re-enter the
war on the side Of Britain-if not
from continental Europe, then per-
haps from Africa America will be-
come the reservoir of supply for
France or any other nation which
ioins the fold The prospect that
Russia may require some assist
ance from American factories is en-
Vlsaged as a possibility. The cry
that America go on a war basis Is
being answered by action almost
every day now. The executive order
abolshing the eight-hour day for
civilian employees engaged in con-
structing the new bases in the At
lantic is symptom of what may be
expected on those projects where
haste becomes necessary, but there is
no sign that it will affect anything
else. MI Roosevelt is waiting for
events and oottlenecks to compel de-
cisionS of this kind.
Confidential Talks in Offing.
The plan to send Harry Hopkins
to London as a personal representa-
tive for a short while until the new
Ambassador is appointed means that
matters of confidential nature be-
tween the American and British
governments will be discussed.
There are all sorts of things in the
works which ordinarily would be
handled by conferences here be-
tween the British Ambassador and
the President. Since the death of
Lord Lothian, no such intimate re-
lationship exists and it may take
little time for the new envoy, Lord
Halifax. to get into his stride.
Mr.. Hopkins is closer to the Presi-
dent than ANYBODY in Washington
except the members of the family.
He has been living in the White
House for long time. He has lit
tie experience in diplomacy and 1t
may we'll be that his limited strength
will not permit him to carry on any
lengthy assignment in London. But
he will be the Presidents eyes and
ears and presumably will have in
formal talks with Prime Minister
Winston Churchill on a number OF
problems which require long-range
view. 1t will be recalled that Presi-
dent Wilson before and during the
World War appointed Col. House as
his personal representative" in Eu-
rope. The same language was used
by Mr.. Roosevelt in announcing the
Hopkins appointment. 1t means Mr..
Hopkins could be a rowing Ambas-
sador.
Under the Constitution. ambaSSa-
dorS and ministers must be con-
firmed by the Senate. but special
ENJOYS and commissioners have for
many years been a matter of preSi-
dental appointment. The President
has large discretionary fund with
which to finance special missions.
He does not have to ask Congress
for authorization. Ordinarily, am
bassadors and ministers do not like
to have personal representatives"
coming to their posts, but in this
instance the London Embassy is
vacant and there is an important
gap of time to be filled until a new
American Ambassador is appointed,
confirmed and sent to London.
Realistic Trend Seen.
The President is giving lndlca-
tions of a more realistic attitude to-
ward the making of vital decisions
on the national defense program
The exact wording of his executive
order appointing William S. Knud-
sen as director of the new Office for
Production Management is likely to
delegate broad authority and power,
perhaps more than was first out
lined
What is needed also is some one
who has the confidence of industry
to 90 around the country and pep"
up the management and labor eX-
ecutives so that they will get the
spirit of the new speedup in Wash
ington. Maybe the President will
find the right man for that, too. For
he is certainly moving faster nova
days on all fronts than he did before
he left for his vacation in December.
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