SPEEDY AID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 93, 21 April 1941, Page 8

SPEEDY AID.

UNITED STATES AIM.

THREAT FROM AXIS POWERS

Now that the United States had deckled to give aid to Great Britain under the Lease or Lend Act. she was concerned principally at present with the speed at which deliveries could be made. This was stated by Commander ,J. P. Oldbury, naval observer attached to the United States Consulate in Xcw Zealand, in the course of an address at the Rotary Club luncheon to-day.

Stating that it had taken a lon# time to crystallise the opinion of 130,000,000 people on such a radical issue. Commander Oldbury said the United States was now "all in" in the effort to assist Britain and European democracies.

Though a strong isolationist feeling had been developed in a disillusioned United States after the last war, it was felt that the safety of that country was wrapped up in the victory of Great Britain.

"We have a full realisation of the danger wliich faces us," said Commander Oldbury, "and we know what our fate will be if the Axis Powers succeed." The United States had taken a stand alongside the nations which had similar ideals. President Roosevelt decided that the best defence was to give Britain all aid possible in the way of war material. Now that the United States had taken a step from which she could not withdraw, the manufacture of armaments was being pushed at all speed. If it was necessary to convoy the war materials then it was possible that escort vessels would accompany shipments. and should it become essential to deliver supplies then more definite means would have to be taken to ensure deliveries. "We are not manufacturing with the view that goods might be sunk in the Atlantic," he concluded amid prolonged applause.