The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-02-08

ilOuNt ~ mp DNAaAAl aAlillT -
chamber BY only 80 votes Is
For almost the first time pub
hcly. under heavy questioning.
members Of the cabinet and IN.
general staff conceded the pos
sibilitv Of a British defeat. with
It's unhappy effects on The L. 5.
They admitted that our assist
snce might he given TOO late.
even II the bill Is enacted IN the
haste demanded by the White
House. This unaccustomed frank
ness raised fresh doubts about
the military wisdom Of stripping
ourselves Of defense weapons At
this time.
Members influenced BY this
line Of testimony do not regard
themselves as "defeatisis or
"sppeasors. They want Eng
land to win there are not more
than 20 congressman who wish
o tn NVise but their first
thought Is the safety Of the L.
5 In other words. proponents
OF about aid for Britain Slim
son. Knox. Morgenthau and Mar
shall scared the members into
giving some deep thought to all
out protection for the L :.
The ordinarily cautious sum
ner Welles also aroused some
uneasineSs over our South Amer
lean policy. IN an address which
did not attract the attention u
merited lie clothed his concern
in deliberately cloudy phrsseol-
ogy. but 1t was widely and care
fully perIsed in congressional
Cloakrooms.
In envisaging the threat Of
Nan attack II Britain should
fail. the under secretary Of state
expressed som. doubt about
South American countries de-
sire or ability 10 continue a po-
hticsl or economic alliance with
the L. $. He pointed out that
their principal export crops en-
ter into competition with our
own, and therefore they could
not find markets here. On the
other hand. he emhasized = Hit
ler-ruled Europe would be hum
siy for South American food
stuffs As our South American
diplomatic expert. ms warnings
carried weight on Capitol hin.
But the reaction Was not what
he desired OF intended 10 pro-
duce. Many members nov take
The view that II our relations
with the nations to the south
Of us rest upon such flimsy
basis. We should pursue a more
self-suffioient and self-contained
policy. In other words. they feel
that both charity and defense
should begin a. home.
Senator Burton X. Wheeler
has denied hotly the presidents
allegation that he expressed
preference once for world
order dominated by the Nazis.
the japanese. the British and
ourselves. The fact remains that
this sentiment Is held by numer-
Gus prominent businessmen and
industrislists in the l.. s. and
elsewhere. II creeps out in their
private conversations. and some
times their public statements
carry a hint of this conviction.
Behind their ideas lies the
same fear which impelled the
industrial rulers of Germany and
Italy TO welcome the arrival of
Hitler and a Mussolini. The
alternative 10 some sort Of
negotiated peace" in their
opinion, IL q worldwide plunge
into communism. They believe
that the despair and privstions
resulting from protracted
wsr-snd the enfeeblement of
the principal belligerent.
would leave Stain or his sue
cessnr n the only victor. They
feel that capitalism and democ-
rsoy- would be doomed. Former
Ambassador kenne dy. now
orsn ded by administration
spokesmen /. an "appeaser."
has warnings OF this prospect.
Advocates OF such settle
ment are not pushing their views
openly. for obvious reasons. The
presidential election appeared 10
demonstrate that they are I'M
popular. Neither Churchill nor
Hitler would listen 10 them at
the moment would Roose-
welt But If der fuehrers ex-
peeted oltzkrieg sgsinst the
British Isles should fail. certain
important people will exert their
influence for a showdown along
this line.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
does not intend 70 press his
constitutional smendmen; for
popular election OF president. at