Mather and Simpson Debate on HR 1776

Attacking the lease-lend bill just passed by the House of Representatives, Kirtley F. Mather, professor of Geology, stated in a Guardian broadcast yesterday afternoon that "our foreign policy from now on will be determined by Winston Churchill."

Sidney P. Simpson, professor of Law, completely disagreed with Professor Mather, saying that without the bill our aid to Britain is "stymied" by Congressional deliberation.

"The President is given power through this bill to make crucial decisions on foreign policy without reference to Congress of the people," Professor Mather declared. Professor Simpson countered this charge with the statement that the lend-lease bill is in itself a declaration of our war policy.

None of the amendments passed by the House have any great significance as a check to the President's power, Professor Mather warned. Professor Simpson, however, discounted dictatorial tendencies in the bill, stating that it merely implements power which has always been the President's since 1789.