NEW MAGNA CHARTA

Evening Star, Issue 23833, 13 March 1941, Page 9

NEW MAGNA CHARTA

AMERICAN AID BILL MR CHURCHILL EXPRESSES BRITAIN'S APPRECIATION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Mach 12. (Received March 13, at 12.5 p.m.) A remarkable demonstration of cheering followed a statement by Mr Churchill,' in the House of Commons regarding President Roosevelt’s signing of the Lease and Lend Bill. Mr Churchill said; “The Lease and Lend Bill became law yesterday when it received immediately the signature of the President, I am sure the House will wish me to express on its behalf and on behalf of the nation respectful appreciation of this monument of generous and farseeing statesmanship, This most powerful democracy has in effect declared in a solemn statute that it will devote its overwhelming industrial and financial strength to ensuring the defeat of Nazism in order that, nations, great and small, may live in security, tolerance, and freedom. By so doing the Government and people of the United States have in fact written a new Magna Charta, which not only has regard to the rights and laws upon which healthy and advancing civilisation can alone be directed, but has also proclaimed by precept and example the duty of free men and free nations wherever they may be to share the responsibility and burden of enforcing them. “ In the name of the British Goverment and speaking, I am sure, for Parliament and for the whole country,'and indeeiFin the name of all freedom-loving peoples, I offer the United States our great gratitude for this inspiring act of faith.”

COLONIAL TROOPS TRANSFER TO MIDDLE EAST AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S DECLARATION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 12. (Reed., ~ .di 13, at 9.10 a.m.) In couiu.-i.-uuM with the transfer of the Anzacs to the Middle East Mr Menzies sent the following message to Lord Cranborne; - “ The Commonwealth Government declares proudly ' that whether it is in Britain or on other frontiers of the Emipre, we want ■ to fight with you in the thickest of the battle until we reach a victorious peace.”

do its full part in creating an adequate arsenal- of democracy. This great arsenal will bo hero. It will bulwark our own defence; it will be the source of the tools of defence for all democracies who are fighting to preserve themselves against ggression. While ■tho defence equipment produced under the law remains in the control of the United States until ;t is ready for disposition, it is the fixed policy of this Government to make for the democracies every gun, plane, and munition oi war we possibly can. For the accomplishment of these objectives, 1 am transmitting my estimate, and I strongly urge the immediate enactment of this appropriation.” SEVEN BILLION DOLLAR PROGRAMME DIVISION OF EXPENDITURE WASHINGTON, March 12 (Received March 13, at 12.55 p.rn.) Accompanying President Roosevelt’s letter was the Budget Director’s report on how the seven billion dollars will be spent. Ordnance and ordnance stores will take 2,343,000,000d01, aircraft 2,054,000,000d01, tanks and armoured cars 362,000,000d01, ships 629,000,000dol, miscellaneous equipment 260.000. 000dol, facilities and equipment for manufacture of defence articles 752.000. agricultural, industrial, and other commodities 350,000,000d01, testing, outfitting, repairing any defence articles 200.000,000d01, services and expenses for carrying out unspecified portions of the programme 40,000,OOOdol, and administrative expenses 10.000. 000dol. [An American billion is 1,000.000,000. A British billion is 1,000,000,000,000.]