AID TO BRITAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 28 February 1941, Page 5

AID TO BRITAIN

ENVOY OF U.S.A. SUPPORT TO POLICY SUPPLIES LISTED LEGISLATION AWAITED (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Feb. 28, 10.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 27. The newly-appointed Ambassador to Britain, Mr. J. G. Winant, before his departure to-day by Clipper for Lisbon en route to London, made a statement. “I go to England on no special mission, but as the American Ambassador,” he said. “I want to serve fully President Roosevelt and the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, who have trusted me. We have agreed on a policy of material aid to Birtain. “I will do my utmost to carry out that policy, but whatever is done must depend on what the American people and American production make possible in the weeks and months ahead. We know what England is doing. We recognise the gallantry, sacrifice and unity of her people under the leadership of Mr. Winston Churchill.” Transfer Preparations The Washington correspondent of the New York Times states that acting on assurances from Senate and House leaders that the lend-or-lease bill will be' passed .without further substantial amendment, President Roosevelt yesterday took steps to transfer to Britain all war supplies from the present stores of the army and navy without crippling the American ai-med forces. This followed a series of conferences at White House between the President and the Cabinet and other important advisers. It is believed that the first definite move to assemble the existing war supplies, moving them in the direction of embarkation for England. Administration sources have revealed that final inventories of the British needs and the existing American supplies were checked at the White House conference, long-range guns, machine-guns, ammunition, etc., being listed. The opinion is given that £100,000,000 worth can be shipped as soon as Congress passes the bill. Supplementary Defence Bill The Appropriations Committee of Ihe House of Representatives yesterday approved the supplementary defence bill, providing for £300,000,000 and sent it to the floor where Democrats conceded that many weapons provided in it might be transferred to Britain if the aid bill were passed. The bill includes funds to complete 53 destroyers, 189 big navy planes, 40 mine-sweepers and numerous other craft, A Congressman, Mr. John Vorys, asked whether the weapons would be subject to transfer to Britain. Mr.- Clifton Wodrum replied that he believed that as much as 50 per cent might be transferred.