U.S. CONVOYS TO BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23315, 29 April 1941, Page 9

U.S. CONVOYS TO BRITAIN

Senate’s Attitude To Legislation INQUIRY BY WHITE HOUSE (Received April 28, 7 p.m.) (U.P.A.) WASHINGTON, April 27. Inquiries by the White House into the Senate’s attitude toward' legislation authorising the convoying of cargoes to Britain,' have revealed, according to well-informed quarters, that 45 of the 95 Senators oppose such action. Some legislators consider that if Mr Roosevelt decides that convoys are necessary, it might be better for him to order them without seeking Congressional authority, with a consequent long, controversial debate. There is still a difference of opinion as to whether the President has such authority. The announcement that the neutrality patrol will be extended has spurred ‘opponents of convoys to seek a showdown.

Informed quarters understand that the plan is for American ships to maintain a safe channel several hundred miles wide by a criss-cross patrol and to keep cargo ships advised of the whereabouts of submarines and suspicious surface ships. The patrol, it is believed, will operate so that battleships. cruisers, destroyers, aircraft-car-riers and bombers will cover the area, reporting their observations in plain English by radio. It is likely that when cargo ships reach the most dangerous areas they will be joined by British warships. Officials acquainted with the plan say that if the patrol found Axis ships of superior fire power and speed, ships would be detailed to follow them and report their movements, enabling British ships to move against the enemy.

It ‘is admitted that such _ tactics would involve risks, but the issue of peace or war with the United States rests on any decision by Germany and Italy to “make something of it.” Disclosing that the United States Atlantic fleet’s patrol operations had already been greatly extended, informed sources indicated that the navy had concentrated large numbers of small war vessels along the eastern seaboard in recent months. These craft are most useful for patrol work. Functioning in close collaboration with these are long-range aeroplanes and cruisers. The navy has been building increasing quantities of small craft and most of them have gone to the Atlantic rather than to the Pacific fleet It is believed that the Atlantic squadron, which originally consisted of 125 vessels, now numbers at least 200, the vast majority of which are operating off the New England ana Canadian coasts. BRITAIN’S WAR EFFORT «MORE AND DEADLIER BLOWS NEEDED” LONDON, April 27. Mr Emanuel Shinwell. Labour member of Parliament for Durham, in an address to constituents, said that it must not be forgotten that in spite of reverses, the British forces had dealt the enemy many hard blows in the field, on the sea, and in the air, and for this the country must pay a tribute to the splendid courage and resourcefulness of their leaders. But more and deadlier blows must be delivered before they would be in sight of victory. This was no kidglove affair. All the enormous weight of the enemy had been brought into play to crush the forces of democracy. Britain, in turn, must organise for victory by everyone in the country pulling his weight to the full. SHIPBUILDING IN CANADA SKILLED WORKERS FROM BRITAIN (Received April 28, 9 p.m.) OTTAWA, April 27. Britain is sending a substantial number of skilled shipyard workers from the Clyde and elsewhere to construct merchantmen in the Canadian Government’s 175,000,000 dollar shipbuilding programme, _. nn It is unofficially estimated that 5000 men may come to Canada. INDIA’S POLITICAL DIFFERENCES MR GANDHI REPLIES TO MR AMERY , (Received April 28, 7 p.m.) NEW DELHI, April 27. Criticising the speech made by the Secretary of State for India (Mr L. S. Amery) in the House of Commons last Wednesday, Mr Gandhi said; "I admit that there is unfortunately an unbridgeable gulf between the Congress Party and the Moslem, League. Why do not British statesmen admit that this, after all. is a domestic quarrel? “Let them withdraw from India and I promise fhat the Congress Party, the Moslem League and other parties will find it in their interest to come together and devise a home-made solution for the Government of India."