If the United States' Congress passes, a {t ts believed it will, the legislation proposed. by the Administration to enable the: Pre~ sident at his discretion to give ald to the democracies along the lines suggested, probably the greatest contribution possible will have been made towards victory for the Allies, 'The powers it 1s proposed to confer upon the President are wide indeed, and 1 thought that, because of that fact, there will some. opposition both in the' House of Representatives and the Senate, though it is not believed that it will be powerful enough to prevent passage of the measure. Briefly, hat is sought for the President is the power, when he deems it necessary to exercise It, 10 give authority to any, or all of the various State departments to render all the assistance necessary to States fighting in the cause democracy to such an extent that the United States will in fact be transformed into a veritable arsenal for supplies and refitting One of the interesting features of the Bill the clause providing that it shall be applic able "notwithstanding provisions of any other law." This does not amount to a repeal of the Neutrality Law and the Johnson Act, though it does at least temporarily supersede them.
The bill, entitled "An Act to promote the Defence of the United States," clearly indicates that the Alles are in fact fighting in defence of that country, and recognizing that fact the U.S. Administration desires to have permission for the loan of munitions, Interchange of defence information and the outfitting of Allied battleships in United States harbours. The resume of the provisions of the Bill show that its terms are s0 wide that the President in his sole discretion can place the nation's military and naval resources, short of men, at the disposal of the Allies, and in fact alms at the attainment the President?s long declared intention of riving all the assistance necessary to the Allies without actually going to war. The Bill is so widely drafted that the: President would be able, if he so desired, to supply the Allied air forces with the famous secret bombing sight which up to the present has been withheld. Naturally the very exten sive powers it is desired to grant to President Roosevelt have already aroused some critic~ ism, but the people of the United States are now faced with the necessity of temporarily suspending constitutional provisions in just the same manner as Great Britain actually at war has been obliged to do. In this connection there is much to be said for the President's contention that if it is the policy of the United States to assist the Democracies to survive methods of speed must be provided which are strictly legal.
Passage of the Bill in its present form would mean the creation of an absolutely, unbeatable Democratic bloc, richer in all resources than the aggressor Powers and equipped with a staying power which the latter could never hope to secure. Thus arrayed against the Axis, whose actions during the past few years have considerably impover~ {shed them, and whose power of recuperation Is decidedly limited, will be the Allies and their rich resources backed by the United States with its enormous wealth, and industrial power. If the Allies stood in need of encouragement it would be found in this proposed extension of ald which the Aéministration wishes to give and which undoubtedly will be allowed. Thus when the proposed enactment becomes law the severest blow will have been struck against the aggressor powers of the present war. Undoubtedly Hitler will endeavour to force an issue before the immense stream of supplies, planned to commence flowing from the United States within six months, actually gets started. It will be the duty of the Allies to stave him off during that period, and from all present Indications it is justifiable to assume they will be able to do so. Then will the tide of war definitely turn In favour of the Allies, and that will be because the Democracies of the world have at last realized the peril which menaces them, and with that realization have reached the inexorable determination that it shall be smashed once and for all. This new year has definitely seen the feet of the Allies firmly planted upon the path to victory: the necessary action by Congress will serve to hasten their steps to-, wards that goal.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.