MUST RELY ON U.S.A.

Grey River Argus, 13 December 1940, Page 7

MUST RELY ON U.S.A.

BRITAIN’S FURTHER PLEA Hitler’s 1941 Offensive DIRECTED AT BRITAIN. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] BALTIMORE, December 11. “With your help in ’planes, munitions, ships, and finance, we are sure of victory,” said Lord Lothian, speaking to the American Farm Bureau Association. In the course of the most-outspoken British statement made during the war, linking the United States’ fate with that ol the British Empire, he said:--“Hitler has lost the second round of the war, but we think he is going to -renew the attack on Britain with all his might, this winter and spring. This time, he is concentrating on the sea,, and is building submarines and long-distance ’planes, to bomb convoys. He will have two new 35,003ton battleships and other vessels in the North Sea, early in 1941 —and cur Navy is strung out terribly thinly. Vve think this situation, concerns you almost as much as it does us. “Seen with a long and clear view, your security, not less than ours, depends upon our holding the Atlantic impregnable and you the Pacific. If one of these two nav.ies fails, then the control of trade routes begins to pass to the Axis. Sea-power is now keeping the war from America. The Axis-Japanese pact makes the ultimate objective of the totalitarians markedly clear. As soon as the Italian or German army or fleet can occupy Gibraltar or North-west Africa, or Britain's control of the Atlantic is sufficiently weakened as to cause doubt where the United States fleet should be stationed, a two-ocean attack on us, both in the Atlantic and Pacific, will be launched. We both, therefme, have a vital interest' in decisively defeating the naval attack on Br.tish communications.” Lord Lothian mentioned ".he heavy shipping losses but said that Britain was undismayed, and with American help, was confident that she could win decisively in 1942, if not before “So long as we hold the great ring of defensive .position-, lying round you—Britain, Gibraltar, Cape Town, Suez, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand—we and the democratic world are safe, but that result has not yet been secured. If we stave off the attack on Britain in 1941, still holding the position I mentioned, Hitlerism must go down. By ourselves, we cannot be sure of the result. You have already declared your interest in the survival of Britain. It is for you to decide whether it is in your interest to give whatever assistance is necessary ■ to make certain that Britain shall not fall. So l° n g as the great ring of’fortresses I mentioned, to which I add Hawaii and Panama, still stand, the war cannot in a real sense approach your shores If you back us, you won’t be backing quitters. The issue now depends largely on what you decide to do. Nobody can share the responsibility with you.” i The Secretary of the British Trades Union Congress, Sir Walter Citrine, made a speech at a dinner in his honour, tendered by the American Federation of Labour. He said that Britain was forced to rely more on the United States for vital defence armaments, due to the relentless German air-raids on British industrial plants, hampering industry and inducing the efficiency of the workers.

He expressed the opinion that Ger many had suffered more, but her ability to- move industrial centres to the east from Berlin had increased the distances R.A.F. bombers must travel.

Mr W. Green said that the Labour Federation favoured an extension of “all the material aid America can give to Britain in her hour of need.”

137 Per Month U.S.A. ’PLANES FOR BRITAIN. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received December 12, 11.10 p.m.) ■WASHINGTON, December 12. According to an official statement here, the deliveries of American ’planes to Britain during the month of November are not. likely to have exceeded four hundred. This announcement has strengthened a movement in favour of accelerating aid to Britain. It is further stated that Britain received only 1,499 American ’planes since last JttTiuary. One reason for the sluggish deliveries is that Britain has found some of the types of American ’planes have lacked adequate armament and firepower. This has necessitated changes in design. *

Food for Europe BRITAIN’S BLOCKADE. GERM AN CO-OPEP. STION SUGGESTED. WASHINGTON,. December 11 Mr Hull (Secretary of State), responding to questions concerning Britain’s refusal to life the blockade, said that persons and organisations interested in sending supplies to German-occupied territories, might ask Germany to contribute to the cause, since such a procedure would be in accordance with custom, where one nation conquered another. Mr Hull said the quest on of food relief for Europe continues to be discussed by American officials, but no decisions have been readied. U.S. NAVAL RESERVISTS. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] WASHINGTON. December 11. The Navy has ordered 1,600 officers and men from the reserves, to active duty aboard the ships. LOANS TO SOUTH AMER’uA. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] • WASHINGTON, December 11. Mr Jesse Jones has announced a 60,000,000 dollar Export and Import Bank Loan to Argentina, to promote trade. Argentina previously received 50,000,000 dollars from the Stabilisation Fund. Uruguay will get a 7.500,000 dollar loan. Mr Jones added that the question

of financial aid to Britain awaits Mr Roosevelt’s return. Position at Tangier BRITISH CONCERN. [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, December 11. The general position at Tangier was described by the Foreign Undersecretary, and in reply to a Commons question, said there had been no further developments since his statement on December 4. “According to our information,” Mr Butler said, “the repair work on the Italian submarines has been de-_ layed, and they are not at present in” a seaworthy condition. The Spanish Government has stated that they will be given a further period to complete repairs, as allowed under The Hague Convention.” In an additional reply, Mr Butler said that official information did not indicate that the Spanish authorities were erecting fortifications of a permanent nature at Tangier. The British Government was watching the situation closely, and the Spanish Government would be left in no doubt as to the British attitude.