LEND OR LEASE

Grey River Argus, 15 January 1941, Page 5

LEND OR LEASE

AID FOR BRITAIN The American Bill [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] WASHINGTON, January 13Mi Kenneth Simpson has introduced a revised form of Lend-or-lease Bill, limiting Mr Roosevelt’s authority to two years, and restricting loans to the British Empire and Ireland. , The House upheld the Speaker’s decision that th e Aid Bill go before the Foreign Affairs Committee rather than the Military Committee, yvhose chairman claimed a transfer. Healings on the bill will begin to-mor-row. . Mr Morgenthau (Secretary io imi Treasury) announced that the tish are negotiating with the American investment trusts on the possib.e Jliquidatipn of, British-owned direct investments in th e United States.

Is Lease the Word ? BRITISH INVESTMENTS IN U.S.A. BUYERS COMING FORWARD. (Received January 14, 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 13. The Secretary of the U.S.A. Treasury. Mr Morgenthau, said: “One large group of American Investment Trusts are ready to buy all of the British direct investments in the United States. The British are negotiating with the American investment trusts on the possible liquidation ot British-owned direct investments in the United States.” He added that this subject would be also discussed to-morrow with another group. Mr Morgenthau said that already he had communicated proposals for purchasing British investments, to Sir G. Phillips, the British financial envoy, who had indicated that the British are ready to liquidate “some of these properties.”

“COLLATERAL" SOUGHT. FOR WAR MATERIAL. (Received January 14, 7.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 13. Mr Morgenthau commented on the demands made in Congress for amendments to the Aid for Britain Bill so as to embrace “reasonable collateral” for the war materials to be sem abroad. Mr Morgenthau said that no fixed policy as to this phase had been yet determined. ROOSEVELT'S HOPES. FOR PASSAGE OF BILL. (Received January 14, 7.40 p.m.) HYDE PARK, January 13. President Roosevelt is going to Washington to-night, to await the action of Congress on the Aid for Britain Bill. Sources close to the President have indicated that Mr Roosevelt feels that his administration has sufficient votes in Congress to win the passage of the Bill without his direct intervention. Accordingly, Mr Roosevelt has remained aloof’ from the controversy, declining even to comment on Mr Wendell Willkie’s endorsement, though he expressed gratification at this unofficially.

AMENDMENTS TO BILL. LIMIT TO PRESIDENTIAL POWERS. WASHINGTON, January 13. Mr. Rayburn has indicated to the press that the administration will not oppose the effort to limit the President’s new powers to the period of the current emergency. Senator McCormack said: “There are a couple of constructive suggestions among the proposed revisions of the Aid for Britain Bill,” and he added, “constructive suggestions are always in order.” The press asked Secretary Hull whether he would see Mr. Wendell Willkie before the latter went to England. Mr. Hull replied he would be glad to talk with him, but it was up to Mr. Willkie, who was “an outstanding figure and a leader of public thought.”

Mr Willkie’s Part PRESIDENT IN FIGHT FOR BILL (Received January 15, 1.20 a.m.) WASHINGTON, January 14. Members of the House Foreign Affair s Committee said the committee may call Mr Wendell Willkie to testify as to th ( . Loan or Lease Bill before his departure for England. President Roosevelt arrives here at 9 a.m. to-day, from Hyde Park, to lead the fight for the passag e of the Bill, but he has indicated that he does not intend to directly intervene, believing that there, will be sufficient votes for the passage without such a step. Idle U.S.A. Ships BRITISH BIDS FOR THEM, (Received January 14, 9.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 13 It is announced that the British are high bidders for nineteen cargo ships, of a tonnage of tw 0 hundred thousand, from the U.S.A. Maritime Commission’s laid-up fleet. These vessels cost 4,375 thousand dollars. 22 SHIPS TO BE BUILT TOGETHER (Received January 14, 10.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 14 The M’aritime Commission has awarded three contracts, totalling fourteen million dollars, for the construction of shipyard facilities to enable the simultaneous bunding of twenty-two ships.

American Gives Ambulances FOR N.Z. TROOPS NEW YORK, January 13. Th e American millionaire, business man, and big game fisherman, Mr Michael’ Lerner, who visited New Zealand recently, has given 1350 dollars for the purchase of an ambulance for New Zealand troops. He

is making a similar gift to the Australians. U.S.A. Aircraft Output ASTRONOMICAL FIGURES. 1 NOT SO PRACTICABLE. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l (Received January 14, 9.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 13. Chairman Vinson said that testimony before the House Naval Committee has indicated that a goal of fifty thousand planes a year is impossible of achievement unless the latest aeroplane improvements are sacrificed in favour of quantity production. He said that the goal might be realised if it were possible to standardise the planes periodically, but then all of the planes would not embody the most modern changes, j Chairman Vinson bases his remarks on the testimony of Mr. Burdette Wright, Vice President of the Curtiss Wright Company who said: “You can not standardise unless the other fellow does likewise.” Chairman Vinson commented: “On that basis, it is impossible, not only to turn out fifty thousand planes annually, but even to produce thirty-six thousand, which should be reached by the summer of the year 1943.”

WAR PROPAGANDA USA. SENATOR CHARGES FILM INDUSTRY [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] WASHINGTON, January 13. Senator Wheeler (who is against American war commitments), the head of the Inter-State Commerce Committee, charged the film industry with propagandising for war. He sent a letter to Mr Will Haye, saying that film propaganda is reaching a point whereat he believed legislation must be enacted regulating the industry. JAPANESE VIEW MUST MEET U.S.A. CHALLENGE [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] TOKIO, January 13. Mr Roosevelt’s Bill is tantamount to an open challenge to the Axis, declares the “Somiuri Shimbun,” which urges the Axis to take al] precautionary measures against eventualities, i

The “Kokumin Shimbun” says: “Japan must build the largest fleet in the world, and organise the largest. army onl earth, including a mechanised force, in order to be ready to in a two-front or a three-front war.”

GERMAN PRINCESS [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] SAN FRANCISCO, January 13. Princess Hohenlohe, who was ordered to leave the United States by January 11, has not left, and has been ordered to be arrested under a deportation warrant. At present, she is in California, and intends fighting against the deportation (Received January 14, 7.40 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, J'an. 13. A message from Tapo Alto, which is thirty miles south-east of San Francisco, to-day states that immigration officers have arrested Princess Hohenlohe there. She was in a semi-hysterical state when arrested, and she is maintaining that she is anti-Nazi and pro-British. PRINCESS BAILED OUT. (Received January 15, 1.45 a.m.) PALOALTO. January 14. Princess Hohenlohe has been released on 2,500 dollars bail, for a hearing on January 17. SHIP HELD UP. (Received January 15, 1.30 a.m.) MONTEVIDEO, January 14. The “Mendoza” is reported to be returning to Montevideo. The Uruguayan Minister, Senor Guani, has denied reports that Uruguay has protested to Britain against the holding up of the vessel. He said he was awaiting a full report.