Evening star., 1941-02-17

Congress and public opinion II a
series of attacks should occur and
result in sinking or loss of life.
Will Serve Notice.
Passage of the bill will serve
notice on the world that the
United States opposes a peace treaty
as long as Hitler is in position to
dictate the terms. Senator Austin,
dictate the terms, Senator Austin
declared in his address.
The Assistant Republican leader
took the floor in support OF the
measure after Democratic Floor
Leader Barkley of Kentucky opened
the momentous debate with a warn
ing that if Hitler is not stopped,
this country eventually will have to
stop him over here.
The debate found Senator Austin
vigorously defending the bill from
the critical questions of several
Democrats, including Senators
Wheeler, Clark and Gillette.
I'VE say, in effect, TO all the
world" Senator Austin began, that
we have no faith in this man Hitler.
We are opposed to his system OF
slavery. Therefore, we will not con-
sent to effect a treaty of peace while
Hitler has the power of debating
the terms. No more appeasement
for u.s."
Belittles Opposition Argument.
The Vermont Senator belittled the
opposition argument that Congress
is giving the President power to give
away the Navy.
What absurdity," shouted the
New Englander. IF 1t were not
written into the bill, the very es-
sence of sovereignty would forbid
it
In support of the f1exibility of
action the bill makes possible, Sena-
tor Austin recalled that when Gen.
PerShing arrived in France during
the last war it was found the Allies
needed mules badly. Spain. he said,
had them, but they could not be
bought for money. Spain, however,
was urgently in need of ammonium
sulphate for fertilizer, which the
United States possessed Because
the President at that time had the
power to do so this country was
able to make the exchange, Senator
Austin said.
Senator Austin said there exists
on paper today the plans for set
ting up the kind of industrial pri-
ority control so effective in the last
war, but they are really not doing
business" he declared. because they
need H. R. 1776 to "galvanize them
into action"
Cites Wilson's Powers.
President Wilson, he said was able
to set up the War Industries Board
and other agencies that controlled
transportation and prices because
he had war powers. President
Roosevelt he said. cannot act to OBJ
tain the same coordination in the
present defense effort without this
bill or something like it.
Some of Senator Austin's Repub-
lican colleagues are preparing to
put forth as an alternative a pro-
posed S2,000,000,0o0 loan to Great
Britain.
"Oh, where would national de-
fense be under that solution?" Sen
ator Austin asked.
Answering his own question, he
said it might invigorate Britain to
some extent" but would not make
possible the effective aid possible
under the lease-lend plan, under
which available materials could be
sent at once.
Gillette Starts Questioning.
AS Senator Austin completed his
vigorous defense of the bill, Senator
Gillette, Democrat. of Iowa, asked
II the speech implied that, while
we have no faith in Hitler's word,
we would take part in the peace
settlement after the war.
Senator Austin replied it did not
He said he does not envision Amer
ica going into this war, or sending
troops and, therefore, will not sit
at the peace table.
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri,, an opponent, joined into sug-
gest then, that Senator Austin does
not agree with Wendell L. Willkie,
whom Senator Clark quoted as hav-
ing testified that the United States
could impose peace terms that
would restore the freedom of such
nations as Czecho-Slovakia Belgium
and Holland.
Wheeler Partly Agrees.
What this country NAV have to
DC later. no one can foretell. Sena-
tor Austin added. He told Senator
Clark his personal opinion that if
The war ends without Hitler having
brought England to her knees, the
small countries that have been con-
quered will recover from within.
Parties would arise in those coun-
tries, he predicted. that would over
turn the present regime and restore
some degree of democracy.
Senator Wheeler. Democrat, of
Montana, the chief proponent of
the bill, entered the debate for the
first time to say that if It followed
my emotions and sentiments instead
of opposing the bill, I would not only
favor it but would be going fur
cher. He said he agreed with Sena-
tor Austin to the extent that Hitler
will not be able to keep the small
he now controls under sub
lection.
Senator Austin declared no one
car "sneer me out of the belief that
the United States of America is in
peril of invasion if Bri-
tain falls. All you have to do is
to take away the benefit of the
British Navy from us and we will
be under the threat of INVASION
and that is enough. We do not have
to be invaded"
Sees Cynicism As Needless.
Senator Barkley said in his speech
we have been somewhat disillu-
by failure of the noble effort
OF % years ago to end all wars, but
declared that disillusionment should
not make us cynical"
1T must not be the instrument
for forging upon us a greater illu-
sion," the Senator said. The illu-
sion that we can live alone in