PLANES FOR BRITAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 December 1940, Page 7

PLANES FOR BRITAIN

500-A-DAY SUPPLY

U.S.A. LABOUR AIM

[BY CABLE——PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

WASHINGTON, December 29.

Mr. W. Reuther, director of the General Motors division of the United Automobile Workers’ Union, who is the author of the plan of the Committee of Industrial Organisation to build 500 fighter aeroplanes a day in idle automobile plant facilities, has broadcast a plea for the speedy adoption of the plan, in case if should be too late to aid Britain. He said that if the plan were implemented immediately, enough aeroplanes would be turned out after six months to swamp the , Luftwaffe. “This is Labour’s plan. Why should Labour concern itself with speeding aeroplane production? It is concerned because it believes this country’s main defence. is that .little fortress isle holding off the Nazi bombers on the qther side of the Atlantic.’’’ ?

GOODS THROUGH EIRE.

LONDON, December 29.

The Berlin radio has quoted the paper “Berliner Boersen Zeitung’s” warning, directed to the United States, again attempting to send goods to Britain through Eire. The newspaper alleges that the United States is considering a revision of the Neutrality Act for the purpose of excluding Eire from the war zone. It stated that Eire still is within the Germans’ blockade area. The paper says: “Whoever enters this zone does so at the risk of exposing the ships’ crews to military operations. The Irish people must decide whether they want to be involved in war.” What appears to be a serious direct warning to the U.S.A .is published in the Berlin Press. It declares that neutral ships entering the so-called “blockade zone” will be exposed to the risk of military operations. It had been suggested in Washington that Eire should not be regarded as in the war zone, for the purposes of blockade.

INTER-FAITH COMMITTEE

NEW YORK, December 28. The Inter-Faith Committee for the Aid of the Democracies is a new organisation of Catholic, Jewish and Protestant clergy and laymen. It has issued a declaration urging that war supplies should freely be given or lent to Britain. It has urged President Roosevelt to call a conference of democracies, including those of the invaded countries, in order to “take counsel together for the defence of liberties; and to set forth a common purpose to achieve a world in which free men can live.” The chairman is 'Doctor Henry Sloane Coffin. He is President of the Union Theological Seminary, The Secretary. is Doctor Henry. .Atkinson; of the Church Peace Union. Those Who have signed the declaration include Catholic and Protestant Bishops, Rabbis and a Jesuit Priest.

BRITISH RESOURCES

WASHINGTON,. December 28. A preliminary audit of the British resources in the United States reVeals that Britain will run out of cash with which to pay for war materials 'early in the Autumn.

HUGE BUDGET.

WASHINGTON, December 28. It is authoritatively stated that Mr. Roosevelt.has drafted a 17,000,000,000 dollar Budget for the coming fiscal year, including a 10,000,000,000 dollars armament programme. • Mr. Roosevelt will appear personally to give his message to a joint session of Congress on January 6. The Budget will be submitted on January 7.