Evening star., 1943-03-10
Lease-Le Expected
To Win Overwhelming
Victory in House
Extension Receives
Unanimous Approval
Of Senate Committee
By the Associated Press.


roar over American lease lend
aid to Russia one fact emerged
Clear-cut tOday-that the House
will approve continuance of the
program for another year, and
probably by an almost unani-
nous vote.
The House roll call will come late
today. The Senate Foreign Relations
Committee gave its unanimous ap-
proval to the extension today, agree
ing to suggestion by Senator Nye,
Republican, of North Dakota that it
write into its favorable report a
statement that the committee feels
the act should in no way commit this
Government on future economic
policies.
Senator Nye said he believed the
State Department went beyond the
powers Of the act" by including in
an agreement with Great Britain a
pledge Of mutual action against "all
forms Of discriminatory treatment
in international commerce" and for
"the reduction of tariff and other
trade barriers"
Even though Republican and House
Democratic leaders expressed con-
fidence the bill would win over
wheming approval, the assertion of
Ambassador William H. Standley
in Moscow that the Russian people
are not being told the full story of
American aid still excited comment.
Reaction in Congress was mixed.
1t ranged from the suggestion of
Chairman Summers of the House
judiciary Committee that this Ma
ton "be patient" to the statement
of Senator Wheeler, Democrat. of
Montana that Stain is a realist-
he's for Russia first and last" Sen
ator Wiley, Republican, of Wiscon-
sin called it all a tempest in a
teapot"
WeIles Calls for Text.
Teapot tempest or not. these de-
velopments followed Admiral Stand
ley'S statements:
Undersecretary of State Welles
said he had cabled Admiral Standley
for a text of his remarks and en-
phasized to reporters that they were
made without consultation with
Washington.
The Moscow radio broadcast the
complete text of a recent lease
lend report listing the amount and
nature of war supplies shipped from
the United States to Russia Sena-
tor Wheeler, informed of this, re-
marked, notwithstanding the fact
that the State Department repu-
dated Admiral Standley, the Stand
ley statement apparently did some
good"
Despite the STANDBY affair the
only voice raised against continu-
ing lease lend in yesterdays House !
debate was that of Representative
Smith, Republican, of Ohio, who /.
protested that I'VE are giving away |
the wealth of three centuries"
Amendments Drafted.
Several members have drafted !
to offer to the bill to-
day, among them proposals to:
Write into lease-lend agreements
the policies enunciated by Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Prime Minister
Churchill in the Atlantic charter.
Subject final settlement of lease
lend benefits" to approval by Con-
gress.
Give the food administrator power
TO halt shipments of lease lend food
when he believes the action neces-
sary to protect the health, morale
and food supply" of this country.
In the Senate Chairman Connally
Of the Foreign Relations Committee
said he did not believe the Standley
controversy would prevent speedy
Senate passage of the bill.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
Of Michigan brought up the speech
by Vice President Wallace stressing
the need for postwar understanding
between this country and Russia
and Contending the groundwork
would be laid for World War No. 3
If we double cross the Soviets.
While the Standley statement is
an amazing one" Senator Vanden-
berg said, Il still think it Is equally
amazing for the Vice President to
suggest America is even capable of
double crossing Russia or anybody
else. I want the record to clearly
show that our record of co-opera-
ton has been an excellent one"
Soviet Embassy Puzzled.
At the Soviet Embassy a spokes-
man said Ambassador Standley's re-
marks we're rather puzzling," mas
much as Soviet newspapers from
time to time have published news of
and British supplies sent
TO Russia. The Red Army news
paper Red Star. he said, recently
carried such an article.
Inquiries at the State Department
disclosed that the Moscow Embassy
Itself had informed the State De-
patment on January 25 that Pravda,
official organ OF the Communist
party, had published an item sum-
American and British aid
to Russia. The Moscow Embassy's
report did not say how extensive the
summary was nor what prominence
was given it by the newspaper.
In the light of this report, some
observers suggested that Admiral
did not mean to imply
that the Soviet press never men
toned the subject Of aid from the
United States but was discontented
over the volume Of such news.
Some legislators were frankly be-
Ulldered by Admiral Standley's re-
marks a this time Senator George.
Democrat, Of Georgia, for one. said
he could not understand why the
Ambassador is talking this way
unless its for consumption here at
home
Others Would Withhold Comment.
There were some. too. who urged
that comment be withheld until
there was an official report from
Admiral STANDBY.
AZ the moment 7 think it wise
that We don't add fuel to the possi-
bic fire, 20 Representative Wadsworth.
Republican, Of New York told the
House.
Admiral STANDBY long has been
known for salty. fortnight speech.