Lease-and-Lend Delays
It is impossible not to deplore the obstructions to the passage of the Lease-and-Lend Bill through the American Senate. At a moment when every day's delay is of vital con- sequence, and when the Administration is standing ready to take action on a vast scale the moment the legislative authority is conferred, opposition Senators are making ten-hour speeches in order to postpone a decision which they are powerless to avert. It was confidently believed at one time that the Bill would be through by the middle of last week. Now it is doubtful whether it will be through by the middle of next. All this is little less than maddening to those on this side who know how overwhelming may be the cost in ships' cargoes and human life of every day's delay. But such feelings must be held in check. The measure before the Senate is revolu- tionary in its relation to everything in America's past practice. Senators are entitled to argue (though those supporting the Administration completely waive the argument) that issues of such immense moment demand a discussion proportionate to their importance. That contention, it is true, is -made the cover for a great deal of purely vexatious obstructionism, but that is in the tradition of the Senate, where debates are hardly ever closured. The Administration is not likely to sit and watch the debate drag on interminably. A closure- motion could probably be carried in case of need. But that is the President's business. Ours is to wait the outcome with what patience we can, avoiding studiously any word that might pro- vide ammunition for the opposition in the Senate.
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