AMERICAN VIEW.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 303, 30 September 1940, Page 5

AMERICAN VIEW.

MUST ARM WITH HASTE.

AIDING BRITISH FIGHT. WASHINGTON, September 28. The Under-Secretary of State (Mr Sumner AVelles), in if foreign policy pronouncement considered to be very significant in view of the announcement of the Rome-Berlin-Tokio pact, reasserted the intention, of the United States to “render all material support and assistance -in the form of supplies of munitions to Britain and the British Dominions in what, we hope, will be their successful defence against armed aggression.” He said the United States faced the gravest dangers of any in history, and must continue in future as in the past to prepare for all eventualities, and to arm with all haste and vigour so as to guard the new world from the threatened danger. Simultaneously she must be ready, when the time came, to help in the construction of that kind of world peace, based on justice and law, by which alone united security could be fully guaranteed. Air AVelles condemned the assault on Indo-China as a threat to the colony’s integrity contrary to Japan’s promises to respect the status quo. There are indications that the United States’ answer to the Lome-Berlin-Tokio alliance may take the iorm of increased aid to -Britain.

Signs of this multiplied during a series of important conferences. The British Ambassador to the United States (Lord Lothian) and Sir AValter Layton conferred first with the United States Secretary of State (Air Cordell Hull) and then Air Roosevelt. Lord Lothian told Air Loosevolt: “Britain needs moro of everything quickly.”

Later Air Koosevelt conferred with his defence chiefs and the Secretary of the Treasury (Mr Henry Alorgentliau), who is co-ordinator for United States and British arms purchases. Later the Cabinet met.

Lord Lothian revealed that he discussed the Pacific with Air Hull. They also considered problems relating to the establishment of United States bases on the sites leased under the destroyer deal. Air Roosevelt received a delegation

of S 7 from all parts of the nation urging further immediate aid to Britain. The spokesman of the delegation said later: “Wo have been greatly encouraged.”