PASSED BY SENATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 March 1941, Page 5

PASSED BY SENATE

LEASE AND LEND BILL VOTING 60 FOR, 31 AGAINST. MAIN PROVISIONS UNCHANGED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright! WASHINGTON. March 8. Senate passed the Lease and Lend Bill by 60 votes to 31. Forty-nine Democrats, 10 Republicans and one Independent voted for the measure: 13 Democrats, 17 Republicans and one Progressive voted against. At noon on Monday two Senate messengers will carry the Bill to the House of Representatives Chamber. It is expected that President Roosevelt will be able to sign the Bill by the middle of the week. As the Bill approached the last stages in the Senate, its main provisions remained unchanged from the form in which the Administration originally introduced it, though the language had been drastically overhauled. , As it stood late on Friday night the Bill authorised the President, “when he deems it in the interest of national defence,” to exercise broad powers for the procurement of defence articles for the “Government of any' country whose defence the President deems vital to the defence of the United States.” It defined a defence article as any weapon, munition, aircraft, vessel, boat, machinery, tool, material, or supply necessary for the production or repair of such defence articles. POWERS OF PRESIDENT. Power is granted the President: — First, to order the manufacture and procurement, with funds made available by Congress, of any defence article. Secondly, to dispose of these defence articles to such Governments by lease, loan, transfer or title exchange or otherwise. Thirdly, to test, repair or recondition any defence articles, including warships, for such Governments. Fourthly, to furnish such Governments with any defence information, plans, or blue-prints pertaining to defence articles furnished. Fifthly, to release these defence articles for export, but not transport them. Sixthly, to purchase or otherwise acquire arms and implements of war produced within the jurisdiction of such country whenever the President deems such purchase or acquisition in the interest of United States defence. RESTRICTIONS STIPULATED. The President’s power to conduct such operations is restricted by the following provisions:— Firstly, no defence article belonging to United States military establishments may be disposed of except after consultation with the army and navy chiefs of staff or the chief of naval operations. Secondly, the total value of articles disposed of from the United States’ own military establishment shall not exceed 1,300,000,000 dollars, with the value of each of the articles to be determined by the head of the United States department concerned. Thirdly, the terms and conditions on which the President disposes of articles may be determined by him—-may consist of repayment in kind or other property, “or any other direct or indirect benefit which the President deems satisfactory.” Fourthly, the President's powers expire on June 30, 1943, or can at any time be terminated by concurrent expression by Congress that such powers are no longer necessary to United States defence. Fifthy, a recipient Government may not give or transfer possession to another country of any articles received from the United States. Sixthly, the President must report to Congress at least once every 90 days on operations under the Lend and Lease Act. Seventhly, ' all procurement of new articles for a foreign Government must be from appropriations made by Congress or under contracts authorised by Congress. PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFEGUARDS. In addition, Congress has adopted the following psychological safeguards as integral parts of the legislation:— Firstly, no authorisation is implied for convoying vessels by United States warships. Secondaly, no permission is implied for the entry of United States vessels into belligerent zones previously proscribed by the President. Thirdly, no change is intended in existing laws covering the use and disposition of the land and naval forces of the United States —in other words, reserving to Congress the right to declare war.