The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-02-12

The Presidents cordial exchange
views with newspapermen over Sci
ator Wheeler's attitude was a nes
example of what the Presidents pa
tisans have so often called "smearing
on Wheeler's part. By coy and dew
Gus answers the President led repor
ers to conclude that, regarding nazisI
in Europe as inevitable, Wheeler ais
considered it desirable.
The Presidents views were elicite
by a friendly reporter who asked hin
to comment on Ambassador Dodd'
Diary" soon to be published by Hal
court, Brace and Co. II the Presiden
had wished, he might also have com
mented on the following passage from
the Diary:
February IL (1936)-This morning
he (Bullitt) condemned sharply thu
cooperation between England, France
and the Balkan states in the hope O.
bringing Russia into moderate policy
and keeping the peace of Europe. He
said Germany would capture Austria
time and quickly bring all Europe un
der her control.
II questioned: Do you think this
would be good for the United States
and England? He cared not a damn
for England and reported that both
Lord Lothian and Lloyd George are
against the English, French, Russian
cooperation with the Balkan entente
He added that Lothian preferred to
let Germany go on her conquering way
towards European domination rather
than to impose limitation upon Ger
many by his country. -"
COMMITTEE HEARINGS
A week after H. R. 1776 had been
introduced by Senator Barley and
Congressman Mccormack, UNCEN-
SORED January 1S) carried an ex-
tensive commentary on it's provisions
and their supposed justification. Since
then hearings before the House and
Senate committees on foreign relations
have produced no important issues
which were not recognized then.
Neither committee has probed very
deeply into the facts upon which sup
port and opposition to the bill presum-
ably are based There have been
lawyers questions and lawyers an
swers, much rhetoric and disturb
ing tendency on the part of the admin
istration to dispose of factual opposi-
tion with wave of the hand.
There is no reason to doubt that
the bill will become law-March 15
is now accepted as being close to the
probable date of enactment. 1t will be
but just what amendments
will be included is still anybody's
guess. Probably there will be time
limit, and a provision that the Presi-
dent must make periodic reports. But
the most controversial amendment
the one prohibiting the use of conveys
lis far less sure of passage. 1t was
defeated in Sol Blooms house foreign
affairs committee after it was reported
certain to be included. Presumably
it was defeated as result of White
House pressure. Before both house
and senate committees, administration
spokesman have gone down the line
in opposition to any such restraint on
he President.
70 to go Percent
AS is usual with important bills, the
'eal fight will be in the Senate where
q votes now seem certain for the
ill, with 20 certain against it, leaving
,6 votes unpledged. This was the sit
lation that led the President to call
he conference of congressional lead
,rs-of both parties this time-on the
light of January 81. But the chances
re that most of the SO unpledged |
-otes will be behind the bill by the
ime the amendments are in, the de- |
,ate completed, and the right speeches
for the folks back home who
re sending in mail to Washington
hat runs 70 to 80 percent against the
ILL., For this reason, if for no other,
he average member of congress is ex-
ected to introduce an amendment.
hen if the bill proves unpopular he
an always demonstrate to his con-
tituents how much better it would
ave been - had his amendment
assed.
INVITATION
One source of opposition to the
lend-lease" bill which has not been
ublicized is Latin America. Whether
MS opposition is in any degree re-
ult of Axis influence with Latin
merican governments cannot be de-
srmined Apparently, however, the
pposition rests on other reasons. For
lstance, the bill is purely US. pol
~; it violates the collective character
{ Pan-American agreements and Latin
merican governments find it difficult
, muster Hemisphere, enthusiasm for
uni-lateral U. S. policy toward Eur
pc. Moreover, Latin American gov
rnments do not care too much for the
revision that opens U. S. ports to
ritish warships Presumably they
SIX why it is necessary to issue so
xpress an invitation for the war to
.oss the Atlantic.
Justification
Hearings before both the house and
,nate committees have failed to prove
lie administration major point: that 8
lere is a real need for so drastic a {
ii. Time and again it has been dem
lstrated that the bill gives the Presi- /
INT no power to take effective steps t
aid Britain or to build up U. S. de- S
nses which he cannot take with
Their a less drastic bill or no bill at !
l. If Britain is actually short of