Giving Help Now Would Take U.S. Further From War

Northern Advocate, 13 February 1941, Page 5

Giving Help Now Would Take U.S. Further From War

WASHINGTON, February 12. Mr Wendell Willkie, in his address to the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate, emphasised that,, while he favoured the bill, he was opposed to undue concentration of power in the Chief Executive.

Personally, he would prefer to see Congress instruct the President to lend or lease these things. He woulld much prefer to have the impetus come from Congress. Replying to questions he said that if he were a member of Con-

gress he would oppose a declaration of war now. Would Influence Peace.

He added that if American aid to Britain were effective, the United States would be able to influence the type of peace finally written. He said the “captured democracies,” including Finland, Estonia and Latvia, would be freed if the United States tipped the scales in favour of Britain. He thought the passage of the bill would' take America much further from war. Not Entry Into War. Mr Vanberg: Does this all-out aid to England finally include our entry into the war ? Mr Willkie : No. After a 90-minutes’ talk with Mr Roosevelt, Mr Willkie said: “The President and I chatted on many things. We talked a lot about defence production matters.” Cordial Talk With President. The talk was cordial. Mr Roosevelt asked many questions about conditions in Britain, said Mr Willkie, and he responded to the best of his ability. Questioned about rumours that he might receive a defence appointment, Mr Willkie said: “There has never been any suggestion of that.” He added that he was going to New York immediately.