AMEASSADOR’S CONFERENCE WITH PRESIDENT

Evening Star, Issue 23744, 27 November 1940, Page 8

AMEASSADOR’S CONFERENCE WITH PRESIDENT

NO PROMISES OF ANY KIND WASHINGTON, November 25. Lord Lothian, after a conference with President Roosevelt, said: “ Britain hopes next year to procure from the United States aid in the form of planes, munitions, ships, and finance. The President made no promises of any kind. I was there to give him a general story of what is happening in England.” Lord Lothian denied Mr J. P. Kennedy’s reported statement that democracy was endangered by replacement by State Socialism. “ I have never seen a more democratic country than England to-day. I saw no signs of democratic decline.” He said the only new order evolving in England consisted of, first, finding a way of ending the bombing menace; secondly, an effort to assure that people were provided with jobs. A message from New Orleans states that Sir Walter Citrine told the convention of the American Federation of Labour;— " I say to ■ you something no British statesman has yet said. Bombing is affecting our output. Speed is the essence of the contract now as never before, because our output cannot keep up the full schedule because of bombings.” LITTLE CHANCE OF EARLY ACTION CONSIDERATION BY FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE WASHINGTON, November 26. (Received November 27, at 9.30 a.m.) The Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman (Senator George), after conferring with President Roosevelt, said his committee to-morrow would take up two proposals relating to American financial aid to Britain, but added that there was little chance of action being taken during the present session. Senator George said the committee would deal with Senator King’s resolution for the repeal of the Johnson Act and the ban on loans and credit to Britain contained in the Neutrality Act, and also Senator Nyc’s counter proposal for a formal investigation into the extent of British financial resources in the United States. Senator George declared that he was in general agreement with President Roosevelt and the State Department of International Policy. He added that immediate legislative action financially to assist Britain was “ impracticable and somewhat premature.” Lord Lothian denied published reports that he had submitted a memorandum asking for battleships, oruisers, and destroyers.