IMMEDIATE AID

Evening Star, Issue 23832, 12 March 1941, Page 7

IMMEDIATE AID

BOMBERS TO FLY ATLANTIC FLYING FORTRESSES INCLUDED SHIPS, TOO, IN FIRST BATCH Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON, March 11. (Received March 12, at 10.5 a.m.) Well-informed circles understand that a sizeable number of United States army and navy bombers are being prepared for flights to England as an immediate token of the United States’ determination to implement the Lend and Lease Bill thoroughly. The army bombers are understood to be “ Flying Fortresses,” while the navy’s contribution is reported to be patrol bombers and long-range planes suitable for convoy duty. It is anticipated that a number of ships will also figure in immediate aid to Britain. Well-informed circles also appear confident that merchant vessels, also over-age destroyers, will be sent to Britain as soon as possible. It is reported that light tanks are being assembled for transfer, possibly to Greece. Mr Roosevelt has decided to ask Congress to authorise 7,000,000,000d0l in cash appropriations for aid to the democracies under the Lend and Lease Bill. Congressional leaders. said the seven billion dollar appropriations w*ould include 1,300,000,000d0l worth of existing army and navy stocks which the Bill authorised .President Roosevelt to turn over to Britain. LEND AND LEASE BILL JAPANESE FORECAST OF RESULTS . AMERICAN WARSHIPS AS CONVOY ESCORTS TOKIO, March 11. Referring to the Lend and Lease Bill, the ‘ Yomiuri ’ said the United States Government would eventually form convoys of its own merchantmen, which would be escorted by American warships, to send material to Britain. APPROVED BY HOUSE LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMPLETED WASHINGTON, March 11. (Received March 12, at 10.45 a.m.) The House of Representatives approved the Senate’s version of the Lend and Lease Bill, thereby completing Legislative action. The Bill now goes to President Roosevelt for signature, PRESIDENT SIGNS BILL PASSED BY OVERWHELMING VOTE IN HOUSE WASHINGTON, March 11. (Received March 12, at 1.5 p.m.) President Roosevelt has signed the British Aid Bill. The House of Representatives passed the Bill by 317 votes to 71. The final scene of the historic Lease and Lend Bill legislation occurred when, amid applause from both Republicans and Democrats, Representative Martin (Massachusetts), the Republican floor leader, said he would vote for the Senate’s revisions. “ I voted against the Bill because I was opposed to granting powers to. the President which I believed should be retained by Congress, he said. “ I feared that the Bill would bring us nearer war, but the majority of both branches of Congress decided otherwise. I realise that Congress liav- t ing determined to follow the policy set forth in the Bill it is wisdom to act quickly. We have taken a step unparalleled in American history. All of us should pray fervently that the decision is a wise one and that jt will preserve peace and security for our country.” AMERICAN ZINC REMOVED FROM SPECULATIVE MARKET WASHINGTON, March 11. (Received March 12, at 9.25 a.in.)' Zinc to-day was removed from the speculative market at the instance of the Defence Commission. Mr Leon Henderson, head of the commission’s price stabilisation division, announced yesterday that all companies producing or selling slab zinc had pledged themselves to sell only direct to consumers or to process manufacturers. No sales would be made on the commodities exchange. LARGE CONVOY DEPARTURE FROM GIBRALTAR VlCHY,'March 11. (Received March 12, at 12.15 p.m.) The Havas Agency’s Algeciras correspondent states that a large convoy under cover of a smoke screen departed from Gibraltar. It included an aircraft carrier, a battleship, a cruiser, five destroyers, ' two large transports, and 19 merchantmen.;