Evening star., 1944-04-20
Mcke|Iar Plans Report
On Lease-Lend Probe
Before Senate Votes
Ey the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press.
An early public report on the
Senate Appropriations Commit
tees independent investigation
OF lease-lend expenditures was
promised today by Acting Chair
man Mcclellan.
Senate leaders regarded yester-
days. top-heavy, 334-to-21. House
vote In favor of continuing the pro-
gram another year as presaging
prompt concurrence by the Senate.
Senator McKellar said, however,
he wanted to put a full report of
his committees lease-lend investi-
gators In the hands of the Senate
before vote is taken on the extern
sion measure.
His announcement conceded with
a comment by Senator Brewster,
Republican, of Maine, one of the
five Senators who last year toured
the war fronts, that he believed the
Senate would want to have some
assurances as to future accounting"
Of lease-lend aid to Allied Nations.
Future Accounting Urged.
Senator Brewster said that while
q full accounting of possible settle
ments for lease-lend aid might not
be possible now, Congress is acute
" aware that this country should
look out for the equities of this
country and that there should be
some assurances as to future ac-
counting" .-.,...
The Senate Appropriations COM
mittee put staff of four investi-
gators at work tabulating all over
seas expenditures and commitments
of the United States last November,
after the touring Senators criticized
several phases of lease-lend oper-
ations. Senator McKellar said the
report would be completed In about
q week.
In passing the bill late yesterday
after three days of debate the House
wrote into law a curb on the powers
of the President to enter into any
postwar obligations without con-
gressional sanction.
Republicans Backed Curb.
That Republican-backed amend
ment provides that in the final set
tlement of lease-lend contract the
President must consult Congress be-
fore making any commitment as to
postwar military, economic or inter-
national policy questions.
A small segment attacked the
handling of lease-lend and Repre-
sentative Elmer, Republican, of Mis-
souri, declared "there isn't country
in the world that won't cut our
throats If it gets the chance" He
also said that mot a nicker' of
lease-lend aid ever will come back to
the United States.
Stronger opposition to the pro-
gram was reflected in yesterdays 81
negative votes than at the time it
was voted on last year. At that
time the tally was 407 to 6, with
one member, Mr.. Elmer, voting pres
ent.
ALI II against the extension this
year are Republicans, all but one
from the Midwest. They include
Representatives Clevenger, Grifnths,
ZONES and Smith of Ohio; Day, Ma
son and Sumner of Illinois; Elmer,
Short and Arnold of Missouri; Knut-
son and O'Hara Of Minnesota, Lam
bertson, Scrivner and Winter of
Kansas; O'Konski and Smith of
Wisconsin, Reed Of New York, Sha-
fer, Woodruff and Crawford Of
Michigan.
Several members sought to put
stringent language into the law, but
were rebuffed. Representative Schif-
.fier, Republican, of West Virginia
offered q plan that would have re-
Nuired Congress to review all final
settlements. Representative Wads-
worth, Republican, of New York said
it was utterly impossible" for the
lawmakers to do that and the
amendment was rejected, 1874 to
ia.
Representative Rogers, Repub-
1ican, Of Massachusetts,, declaring
she was fearful of what use other
nations might make of United
States-loaned equipment, asked that
the law require Congress to approve
before any stockpiles are left in
foreign lands or transferred to other
countries. Opponents of this de-
clared that would show a lack of
faith in the American military men
thandling lease-lend supplies. Her
amendment was voted down, 124
to 81.
Lease-lend, conceived in March,
1941, has been on a yearly basis.
Without the measure the House ap-
proved yesterday, the program
would expire June 80.
Under lease-lend, the United
States has put s22. 900, ,o00, 900 of war
goods and services at the disposal
Of Allied Nations.
18th St. Bridge
Continued From First Paee)