Evening star., 1941-02-09
Ry GOULD LINCOLN.

The vitally important lease
Iend" bill to aid Britain and the
other democracies passed the
House late yesterday by a vote OF
26O to 165-a margin of 95 votes
after a turbulent day.
AS finally passed, the bill contains
no limit on the total cost OF AID
which may be extended by this
country to the battling democra-
cies under its terms.
It does contain, however, pro
vision that by majority vote OF poVfl
houses-a concurrent resolution not
recurring the approval of the Presl-
dent-any and all powers granted
by the bill may be repealed.
Despite pleas of both Republicans
and Democrats that unity be a
guiding star as the House acteo Oh,
thi. important measure OF natlonal
foreign policy. the vote on the pas
sage of the bill was largely along
party lines.
Political Lineup on Bill.
The political complexion OF the
vote follows: =,
For the bill-236 Democrats. "a
Republicans-total, 260.
Against the bill-25 Democrats,
135 Republicans, Progresslves,
Farmer-Labor, l American LABOR
party-total, 1865.
House Republican Leader Martin,
IN a statement issued lmmeolateiy
after the vote had been taken, SAID:
TT was with great regret that l
MAS unable conscientiously to vote
for the bill. I voted against
the bill because I believe that IN
its nresent form it will be the long
est single step this Nation has yet
taken toward direct involvement IN
wars abroad
Representative Fish of New York
ranking Republican member o. the
House Foreign Affairs COMMITTEE
who led the fight against the DILL
made the following comment.
eff this bill results in taking us
into deep and bloody waters, as Sug-
gested bv the gentleman from IeXaS'
Mr. Summers. those who today vote
for the first step in that dlrectlon
relinouish their control OF the future
and give their approval In advance
of anv act the President chooses 10
take under this legislation, even
into war
Fish's Proposal Defeated.
lust before the final vote was
taken, Mr.. Fish made the final effort
of the opposition to set the bill ASIDE
and substitute proposal to grant
credits to Great Britain alone. He
moved to recommit the bill to COM
mittee. with instructions to report
the bill back forthwith With the
following amendment:
The President is authorized to
grant credits to Great Britain in
total amount not to exceed $4,000
600 900 to be used for the purchase
in the United States of defense
articles, requiring collateral security
If available"
His motion to recommit was de-
feated, 263 to 160.
Speaker Rayburn, in an address
delivered over the radio short time
after the passage of the bill, said:
LAS Speaker of the House I am
proud to be able to say tonight that
within less than month after its
introduction the House of Repre-
sentatives has passed the vitality i'm
portant lease-lend bill to promote
the defense of America. 1 am proud
that the House has given this mag
i1ificent proof of the ability of our
democracy not merely to debate
fairly, but to act timely. When die
tators strike, democracieS must not
hesitate to act in self-defense.
The lease-lend bill is not, as some
people are trying to make us believe,
a bill to put America into war; it is
a bill to keep war from America. ;"
The House, sitting in committee
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