The Bay of Plenty Times SATURDAY, JANUARY 11th, 1941 AMERICAN AID FOR BRITAIN

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13236, 11 January 1941, Page 2

The Bay of Plenty Times SATURDAY, JANUARY 11th, 1941 AMERICAN AID FOR BRITAIN

Americans are determined to give Britain every material assistance to help win the war. At the outset of hostilities, Cong l ess massed the Neutrality Act, the main feature of which was the cash and carry” clause. This was distinctly favourable to Britain and her Allies, for Britain, owing to her complete command of the sea, was able to comply with the clause, whereas the Germans and Italians could not. As we all know Britain has been making heavy purchases of war material in the United States, and according to recent reports, payments for these purchases have been made mainly in gold, it will be remembered that early last year, Biitain contracted to take the whole of the gold output of South Africa, and has no doubt obtained some supplies of the metal from the French, and from the Governments of the other occupied countries. Britain has been paying her way all along, but her power to pay is now diminishing and therefore the assistance of the United States at this juncture is very timely. The President has asked Congress to make a special gesture, and the form that American aid will now take is to lend and lease. Britain wants merchant ships which the United States could supply from her own stocks and from enemy vessels in United States harbours. Britain probably also needs destroyers and light eriusers which America is able to supply, particularly destroyers. These vessels could be leased to Britain with the understanding that they are returned after the war in good condition, and all losses paid for. The other requirements of Britain such as aircraft, tanks, guns, and ammunition, could be financed by the American Government without infringing any of the existing Jaws of the country. The cheering feature is that the United States is so whole-heartedly with Britain. Although technically America is not at war with Germany and Italy, she is in actual fact at war * with them. America is not sending troops to take part in the war, she realises that man-power is,not wanted at the moment; but war materials are, and it is by supplying these materials in the most generous way that America can keep her troops out of the vyar. The whole American nation appears to have realized the importance Of this, and there is positively competition among the leaders to see how generous can be. The course of the war is definitely in favour of Britain. Italy cannot hold out much longer. She cannot expect much, if any assistance, from Germany, for Hitler has his hands full. The German troops are spread along a great stretch of country from Norway to Rumania, and these troops confront a wall of. hate. When the British take the offensive, Germany will need all her forces on the Western Front, and as she weakens her hold of conquered countries, the oppressed people will rise and give vent to their hate by acts of sabotage. The two democracies of Britain and the United States have come closer together than ever before. They are both closely concerned with preserving the demo- - cratic system of Government. Democracy is the best form of Government devised by man because it recognises the rights and liberties of the individual. It recognises the freedom of speech, the freedom of public worship and the freedom of the press. It is the application of these principles of Government that make for ecoomic progress. All other ideas of Government including socialism, are against the public welfare.