The Lease-and-Lend Bill's Progress
The Lease-and-Lend Bill is expected to be approved by the United States Senate by the end of next week. Its safe passage was never in doubt, but there was always the possibility that delaying tactics might be deliberately adopted. That danger has happily receded, Senator Clark, the Opposition leader, having pledged himself and his colleagues on Tuesday to eschew any such form of obstruction. But it is still uncertain whether the Senate will adopt the Bill in the precise form in which it was passed by the House. If it does the President can add his signature immediately. If not there will have to be discussion between the two Chambers till agreement on a single text is reached. That might delay the enactment of the measure considerably. But when once the Bill does reach the President action will be swift and decisive. Consultations between Mr. Roosevelt and his principal executive Ministers began on Monday in anticipation of the passage of the measure, and there is little doubt that before Mr. Roosevelt's signature is dry orders will be given to hand over forthwith to British control, and in some cases to British ownership, ships, aeroplanes, and consignments of munitions, regarding which decisions will by then have been already taken. There is some prospect, more- over, that, as it is put, the United States may become the larder as well as the arsenal of democracy, working out a concerted programme for the supply to this country of various foodstuffs of which we stand in need and which America is in a position to supply. We have hardly begun to see yet what American co- operation can mean. When the Lease-and-Lend Bill is through it will be like the onrush of a river whose course is suddenly cleared of all obstructions. _
Previous page
