MATERIALS FOR FREE FRENCH

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23496, 26 November 1941, Page 7

MATERIALS FOR FREE FRENCH

Lease-Lend Aid From U.S. MR ROOSEVELT’S ORDER . (Received November 25, 11 p.m.) (U.P.A.) NEW YORK. NoV. 24. The Free French delegation has ; made public a letter from Mr Roosevelt authorising lease-lend aid by the United States to the Free French forces by the retransfer of materials through Britain or her Allies. The letter added: “I hereby find that the defence of any French territory under the control of French volunteer forces is vital to the defence of the United States.” The United States State Department has confirmed that an order authorising lease-lend aid to the Free French forces has been made. It says the order was made on November 11 in a letter to the Lease-Lend Administration and a similar letter was sent to the Free French delegation. This move followed an announcement by the United States Office of Export Control that all export licences to Algeria, French Morocco, and Tunisia have been revoked, also all licences for the export of petroleum products to Spain and its possessions, and to Tangier. The office did not explain the order, but it is believed to be part of the general policy of keeping American products from falling into the hands of the German army.