Evening star., 1941-05-01
.GuffeyDen1dnds
OF Convoys
In Hemisphere
Justified by Peril
Thot Confronts U.s.
He Tells Senate
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

A demand for conveys, at least
in this hemisphere. was made on
the Senate floor today by Senator
Guffey, Democrat. of PENNSYLVANIA,
staunch administration supporter.
81 realize" he said. that the
President has said that conveying
means shooting, and shooting is
close to war. In most things I bow
to the wisdom of our great Presi-
dent, but feel. and I hope he feels,
that whatever risks are involved in
conveying our ships. at least to the
mld-Atlantic, are justified in the
face of the peril that confronts US"
Up to now only the opponents of
conveys have taken the initiative
in raising the issue on the floor.
Senator Guffey's speech in behalf of
such a move gave rise to specula-
ton that the friends of all-out aid
to Britain may be preparing to take
a more vigorous position on the
question.
No Act of Aggression.
Throughout his senatorial career
the Pennsylvania has consistently
supported administration policy.
and his speech TODAY comes on the
heels of action by the Foreign Re
lations Committee yesterday in re-
fusing to report out the Tobey res
olution to prevent conveys. Sen
ator Guffey is a member of that
committee.
IF our Navy went on convoy
duty Senator Guffey said. 1T
would be performing no act of ag-
greSsion on the NaZi sea raiders
If there was any shooting they
would have to start it. and what
ever action we took would be an
action in defense.
The mere presence of an Ameri-
can Warship with the merchant YES
sells would be notice to the Nazi sea
wolves that reprisal would be imme-
diate for any attack-and the safe
transport of most of our shipments
would probably be accomplished
without firing a shot"
TObey Plans Maneuver.
A moment after Senator Guffey
had concluded. Senator Tobey Re
publican, of New Hampshire. lead
ing foe of conveys. served notice
that he will try TO attach his anti
convoy resolution to the admins
tration bill to take over foreign
ships now in American ports.
In that way he will get the issue
before the Senate. despite refusal
of the Foreign Relations Committee
yesterday to report out his proposal.
Pointing that this course will
bring Senate roll call on the ques-
ton. Senator Tobey added:
And so now I again turn toward
1900 Pennsylvania avenue and say,
Mr.. Chief Executive. here is one
plan which no amount of White
House pressure can thWart. whether
that pressure is applied directly or
indirectly, and whether the maneu-
verings are in the open or under
cover Make no mistake about it.
There will be consideration by the
Senate on this resolution. and there
will be roll call vote on this resolu-
ton
No Wish to Declare War.
In his speech. Senator Guffey
took issue with the general assump-
ton that "a hostile exchange at sea
is necessarily followed by war"
History" he said. bears out no
such inevitability. Far back in our
history Napoleon extended his anti
British blockade to include our YES
sells. and, if l recall my history
correctly, there was gun-fire during
the years that we combatted that
French theory. But no war resulted.
Just a few years ago japanese air
craft sank our patrol ship in Chi
nese waters-the Japs said it was
a mistake-and the Panay returned
the fire as best it could. No war
resulted"
Senator Guffey declared I'VE have
no intent. no desire, to declare war
but we cannot prevent any aggres-
sor nation from declaring war
on us"
Continuing, he asked:
why must it be assumed that if
we fired on a submarine or a
bomber that was assailing an Amer
ican mercant vessel, war must
follow?
IN 1918 there was lot of shoot
ing in and around Vera Cruz, but
we had no war with Mexico. Japan
Continued on Page Ali, Column q