IMMEDIATE AID URGED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 119, 13 February 1941, Page 7

IMMEDIATE AID URGED

Willkie Testifies BRITAIN’S NEEDS OUTLINED

United States Warned

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

WASHINGTON, February 11

11 Britain should collapse tomorrow, the United States woulu be in the war within 30 days, or within a very' short period, said Mr. Wendell Willkie in his address to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Mr. Churchill had told him that destroyers, merchantmen, and bombers were Britain’s chief needs that the United States could supoly immediately. “My belief is,” he said, “that Germany cannot successfully invade Britain. If the northern pcits can be kept open and supply lines maintained. I am confident that Britain can survive the shock of the spring and summer campaigns. If she stands through the summer, the effects of our long-range assistance will begin to be felt.” Arguing against the isolationist contentions that the United States should not concern herself with anyone beyond American shores, Mr. Willkie said he believed such a policy would inevitably result in the destruction of America’s civil liberties, the loss of freedom, and eventually in war.' “If we isolate ourselves, Britain may have great difficulty in surviving,’ he'said. “None can say at present whether or not Britain can win, but we know that if she is defeated the totalitarians will control Eiirope. and may also control the Atlantic. “Under those circumstances Germany will probably make a drive, whether economic or military, against Latin America. Perhaps Japan will drive southward to the East Indies. Thus the United States and Canada will be ringed by totalitarians totalitarian trade methods, unfriendly toward the United States and not reluctant for a fight. Two Results.

“Such calamity would have two results. First, in order to compete with those Powers we would have to adopt totalitarian controls, losing our liberty here at home; and, secondly, we would eventually be drawn into war against one or more of those Powers. They would so cramp, hinder, and infringe upon us that we would be forced to fight In that event we would be fighting alone, a different battle in the same war that Britain is now fighting.” “Britain’s greatest hazard,” he said, “is the destruction of shipping. It is essential that not only the northern ports, through which Britain chiefly breathes, should be kept open, but thej’ must be kept supplied with enough shipping to meet the people’s and the military procurement programmes. “Britain needs still more destroyers. Merchantmen are crossing the Atlantic without nearly enough protection. Sometimes a couple of destroyers are protecting 30 or 40 ships. If we make destroyers available to Britain they should be reconditioned in the United States yards. The 50 destroyers delivered recently are extremely valuable, but owing to the congestion and shortage of mechanics, Britain found it difficult to recondition them all simultaneously.” “Immediate Needs.”

Britain’s needs were both immediate and long-term. Long-term needs such as aeroplanes,' munitions and ships were largely on order in the United States, but it would be many months before the efforts would begin to show significant results. Destroyers were an example of the kind of thing Britain needs but which it was difficult or impossible to obtain through the mere granting of credits. “The United States aircraft programme will provide a little help in 1941, but would not begin to give Britain air supremacy till 1942. “The hope is that with the fulfilment of the long-term requirements, Britain will obtain complete, supremacy over Germany; 'but. Britain may not hold out long enough to use those future materials and weapons unless certain immediate requirements are fulfilled, and these have the most direct bearing on the Bill.” Mr. Willkie added that he saw piteous and heart-rending destruction In the northern industrial towns, but the damage to productive facilities was relatively small.

Mr. Willkie said, in regard to the provision of destroyers, that America “should be able to do this directly and swiftly instead of through a rigmarole of dubious legalistic interpretations.” While help under the Bill should be limited to the British Commonwealth. Greece, and China, Congress should retain power to pass on assistance for any other nations which became subjects of aggression. Time Limit Urged.

He also urged that there should be a time limit on the Bill, and that Congress should retain power to terminate, by joint resolution, the extraordinary authorities conferred on the President by the Bill. “I have gone to the full limit of my conscience supporting the Administration’s foreign policy because of my great desire for national unity,’.’ Mr. Willkie said. “1 have wanted to see America stand united before the world as the friend of all fighting for liberty, as the despiser of all aggressors and despoilers of the democratic way. It would be truly inspiring for us and for liberty-lovers everywhere if the Bill could be adopted with a non-partisan and almost unanimous vote.”

Mr. Willkie rejected suggestions that Congress should provide billions of dollars of credits. He said he did not feel that credits alone would provide the effective immediate aid which was necessary. “The problem,” lie said, "is rather the iniemdiate disposition of certain equipment much of which cannot be purchased because it is owned by the United States Government. Under domestic laws at present enforced the United States is unable to deliver it.” Making Aid Effective. “It cannot be done without cumbersome and lengthy subterfuge. If we are to adopt the policy of aid to Britain it is above all necessary to make the aid effective. Rendering ineffective aid would be disastrous. It would give Hitler just as good a pretext against us as would effective, aid, but if our aid is ineffective Britain may go down.” Other Witnesses.

The Mayor of New York, Mr. La Guardia, chairman of the American members of the United States-Cauad' 1

Defence Board, told the committee that complete plans now exist for the joint defence of the United States and Canada. He said that these plans embraced tactics and questions of territory and the co-ordination of forces. Dr. J. B. Conant, president of Harvard University, told the committee that the United States should assure Britain that she will go to war against the Axis if there is no other way to ensure the defeat, of the Axis.

Dr. Conant urged that the United States should pledge itself to make an all-out. effort lo insure the defeat of the Axi.s Powers. He said that if the United States follows the advice of those who would limit aid or who advocate a negotiated peace the country would be entering on a policy fraught with tlie gravest risk.

Today was the last day for the hearing of evidence on the Bill, and the Chamber was crowded.