FLOW OF MUTUAL AID

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24150, 8 January 1944, Page 5

FLOW OF MUTUAL AID

Lend-Lease System At Work

13™ REPORT TO U.S. CONGRESS

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, Jan. 6. Neither lend-lease statistics nor dollar funds of any kind could measure the relative contributions of the nations towards winding up the war, said President Roosevelt in his thirteenth report to the United States Congress on lend-lease. "The money cost of reverse aid is great, but it is no sure measure of the help we receive from our Allies. “The flow of lend-lease assistance from the United States to the Allies and reverse lend-lease from the Allies to us has increased the oower of our united offensive.

“Some countries, like the United States and Canada, which are located away from the fighting theatres, are able to ifiake available to other nations large quantities of food and manufactured arms.

“Others, like the Soviet Union and China, require virtually everything they can produce to fight the enemy on their own soil. “ihe Beal Measure”

“The real measure of aid which we and the other United Nations have received from the Soviet people is to be found in Stalingrad, Kharkov, and Kiev, and in the 1,000,000 Nazi soldiers killed, wounded, or captured, who will not be able to oppose our forces in western Europe. “So with all our fighting Allies: the British, whose forces fought in the Mediterranean campaign and are considerably larger than our own, and the French, who fought with us in Tunisia, and are fighting now, not only in Italy, but as a heroic army of underground resistance in France itself. “The real measure of aid which we and the other’United Nations have received from China is the six and a half years’ resistance during which our indomitable ally has engaged large Japanese armies with ever-increasing losses to the Japanese. “In addition, the United States is receiving directly as reverse lend-lease without payment substantial supplies provided by the Allies within the limits of their material and financial resources. Reverse Contributions “Up to last June the United Kingdom spent for reverse lend-lease to the United States 871,000,000 dollars, New Zealand 51,000,000 dollars, and India 57,000,000 dollars. These figures do not include supplies and services to United States forces in North, Africa, Sicily, Italy, and elsewhere. Similar aid is being provided by the Belgians and the French. “The United Kingdom, New Zealand, and India have also agreed to provide, without payment, raw materials, commodities. and foodstuffs previously purchased by us in Southern Rhodesia and the colonial Empire. “Similar arrangements are under negotiation with South Africa and Australia. British shipping to carry these supplies, which include such strategical materials as rubber, rope fibre, chrome, cocoa, tea, and oils, is also under reverse lend-lease. The French have similarly undertaken to supply strategical materials in North Africa. “We are also receiving reverse aid as the need arises in China' and the Soviet Union. Both have had to strain their own manpower, transportation, and other resources to the utmost in fighting our enemies on their soil, and they have not been in a position to provide large amounts of aid. “Ferry routes have been developed by the United States and the British jointly to facilitate the delivery of aeroplanes to Britain, the Middle East, and Russia. Lend-lease funds were an important factor in building and equipping airports along the routes and constructing and maintaining repair and supply depots. British-built Airfields “The British, under reverse aid, have built a great number of airfields for our forces. Britain, like the United States, has spent several hundred million dollars in building in various parts of the world the airfields essential for carrying on the war. These are used by many United Nations, Supplies from the United States in building or equipping airfields in the lands of the Allies were furnished under the LendLease Act. “The Act provides that the benefit to the United States may be by payment or repayment in kind or property or by any other direct or indirect benefit which the President deems satisfactory. “The final determination of the benefit is deferred until the extent of defence aid is known and the progress of events makes clear the final terms and conditions of the benefits, which will be in the mutual interests of the United States and the countries receiving aid, “The equipment of airfields abroad will be fully taken into account in the final summing up, which involves many other factors besides lend-lease. “The final complete answer can be found only througn continuing the successful collaboration of the United Nations in international commerce after the war and in the development of a system of general military security in which the interests of the United States and • other United Nations are fully protected. “The cost of the war to us and our Allies is high. The more fully we can now mobilise manpower, supplies, and other resources for the decisive tasks ahead, the lower will be the-final cost of victory. The United Nations in the New Year are stronger and more firmly united than ever before. The Germans and Japanese will both soon learn that to their sorrow. “The coming year will be a year of decisive actions in the war. By combining their strength the United Nations have increased the power of the common drive to defeat the Axis. We have already beaten back the enemy on every front on which we are engaged. At Teheran and Cairo plans were agreed on for major offensives which will speed the day of victory. With the closer unity there achieved, we shall be able to strike ever-increasing blows until the unconditional surrender of the Nazis and the Japanese.”

WAR IN SOUTH PACIFIC

MEN AND MATERIALS NEEDED (Rec. 11.20 p.m.) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 7. “The powers that be have decided to concentrate on the other side so we shall await our turn, but after the boys roll up Europe the south Pacific will get quantities of men and material, and soon thereafter there will be a huge celebration where Tokyo used to be.” This statement was made by Admiral William F. Halsey at a press conference on his return to the United States for the first time since June, 1942. Commenting on the south Pacific situation, Admiral Halsey said he needed more men and material. That was a normal request for any fighting man. American losses in the south Pacific were in the ratio of one American to 10 Japanese. That was the approximate ratio of Japanese and American ability as fighters. Admiral Halsey revealed that units of the Royal Navy had served under him on several occasions, fighting alongside the Americans with perfect co-operation. He added that at present two Japanese aircraft-carriers were operating in the south Pacific and had not yet been located.