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Lend Lea Act Pros And Cons

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Early in World War 11, the United States devised a plan to allow the Lend-Lease Act to help the nations that were struggling while fighting the Axis powers. This allowed President Roosevelt to sell and lend war supplies to any country who were allies to the United States. Many countries had benefited from the Lend-Lease Act. The Lend Lease program was overall successful even though it was a controversial program that faced much opposition. In March 1941, Congress approved the Lend-Lease Act. The Lend-Lease act was brought up by President Roosevelt. This helped the United States allies that were lacking military supplies and weapons. “The United States contracted Lend-Lease agreements with more than 30 countries, dispensing some $50 billion …show more content…

“British Prime Minister Winston Churchill later referred to the initiative as one of the most honorable acts one nation had ever done for another.”(Office of the Historian). Winston Churchill said that President Roosevelt was being an honorable man and not being shameful and greedy. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson was another supporter of the Lend-Lease Act. In support of the Lend Lease Act he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that we are preparing ourselves. By doing this during the debate, congress finally passed the Lend-Lease Act. This indeed helped Great Britain. Both men who supported the Lend-Lease Act thought that President Roosevelt was being sharp-witted on his decision with this Act, but not everyone agreed on the Act of President …show more content…

Marshall did not agree on this Act, of lending war supplies to other countries. He wanted to keep the military supplies for the protection of the U.S. military. “Marshall thought that Britain would surrender and American supplies sent to British would end up in the Germans hands.”(Office of the Historian). Another man who disagreed with Roosevelt’s Bill was Robert Taft, Senator of Ohio. He didn't like the way the Lend- Lease Act gave the President permission to sell, lend, or give away all the military supplies. He believed that instead of us ordering equipment, that the country should do it themselves so that there is no dissatisfaction of equipment. He also didn't like how there was no limit on spending, which meant that the president could give everything to any country who was an allie. In Taft’s own words, “no past President has ever had the power to spend unlimited money.”(Speech Against Lend-Lease). “This Lease-Lend bill might well be called the bill to make the United States the best and biggest Santa Clause the world has ever seen.”(Speech Against Lend-Lease).Taft believed that by giving all their military supplies and that when Roosevelt did run out that he would be able to ask Congress for more money and supplies that they would give it to him. In Taft's words “This bill goes far beyond any reasonable aid by making the United States finance British purchases from South America, from Australia, from all the British colonies.” (Speech Against

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