Counter-Attack

While Franklin Roosevelt sat planning in the White House, enemies of his foreign policy took advantage of his silence to start a counterattack. They were led by Montana's isolationist Senator Burton Kendall Wheeler. Ever since he was beaten in the Supreme Court fight in 1937 by Burt Wheeler and his forces, the President has obviously been a little afraid of the trouble that Wheeler could stir up. Senator Wheeler last week had plenty of ammunition for his attack, one revelation, one prophecy, one dare, one warning and (with Senator Taft) one report.

Revelation. On July 3, four days before President Roosevelt announced that U.S. troops were in Iceland, Wheeler had told newsmen he was "reliably informed" that the U.S. was going to "take over that island."

White House Secretary Steve Early pointed out that Senator Wheeler might thus have endangered the lives of Iceland-bound U.S. sailors and marines. Britain's Prime Minister Winston Churchill sent a personal message to President Roosevelt, complaining that British troops had also been endangered. To these indignant allegations the Senator answered calmly (and illogically): "My information is that we had already occupied Iceland at the time I gave out my statement."

Prophecy. A few hours after President Roosevelt confirmed his Iceland story, Burt Wheeler said: "It won't be long before we will be occupying Dakar, the Azores and the Cape Verde Islands." The prophecy was quickly denied by Dr. Joao Antonio de Bianchi, Portuguese Minister to the U. S. "Whoever tries to take our islands," said Dr. de Bianchi, "will get his fingers scalded."

Dare. Senator Wheeler next dared the President to ask Congress for a declaration of war. If Congress approved such a declaration, said Burton Wheeler, he would be one of the first to back it up.

Report. "Weeks ago," said Bob Taft, "I heard on reliable authority that the United States was constructing a naval-air base for Great Britain in Northern Ireland." Said Senator Wheeler, the bases were not merely for Great Britain's use--they were for the U. S. Navy. Moreover, said he, talks were already under way between Britain and the U. S. on plans to pool the world's two biggest navies.

Warning. Said Gadfly Wheeler, thoroughly enjoying the rumpus he had stirred up: "There will be revolution in this country* if the Administration gets us into this damnable war. ..."

*Not in Atlanta, Ga., where Senator Wheeler was refused the use of the city auditorium.

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