LIAISON OFFICER IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 125, 20 February 1941, Page 7

LIAISON OFFICER IN LONDON

American Appointment EXPEDITING AID TO BRITISH

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright.) (Received February 19. 8.10 p.m.)

WASHINGTON, February 18.

Indicating that be hopes to have the administrative details of the Aid to Britain Bill in tentative shape in 10 days’ time. President Roosevelt announced the appointment of Mr. Averall Hat liman as special “defence expediter to handle the work programme in London. Mr. Harriman is a New York financier at present connected with the office of production management. He will leave for London in about a fortnight.

President Roosevelt said be wanted a liaison officer in London to keep the British Government apprised of the production situation in the United States. Mr. Harriman will remain in London for throe to four months and then revisit the United States to renew his familiarity with the situation. Senator Bennett Clark, the first, opposition speaker in the Senate debate, said the British Aid Bill would weaken American defences, and gambled the whole national safety upon one card, a complete British victory.

“I am entirely unwilling to commit tlie United States to the defence of the British Empire. 1 do not agree that the American people should underwrite the expenses of the British Empire, from Hong Kong to Labrador. I am unwilling that American taxpayers, already hard pressed, should be called upon to adopt measures which Canada, New Zealand and Australia have not yet been called upon to enact.”

Senator Hiram Johnson presented a minority report on behalf of opponents of the Bill. "There is no need now for additional aid,” it. says. "Britain is receiving, and will continue to receive, all the aid necessary that can with due regard to our own safety be accorded.”