U.S.A. AID TO BRITAIN

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1941, Page 6

U.S.A. AID TO BRITAIN

. BILL GOES TO SENATE Guarantee From Britain Urged ; FOR ADEQUATE PEACE PLANS. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] WASHINGTON, February 13. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has approved the Lend and Lease Bill by 15 votes to eight. The Bill has been sent to Senate for debate, which is expected to begin on Monday. i Senator Austin, a supporter of the Billi said that aid to Britain should" be conditioned by an assurance of an “adequate peac e plan,” which would guarantee th e maintenance of British and American ideals of freedom. “Let us b c sure that she will present our views at the peace table.” He asserted that England could not survive without America’s aid, and added: “We should have a guarantee that Britain will stand actively with us, and not abandon us, as in the case of Manchukuo.” Senator Pepper said that the Bill indicates “new unity om the part of the American Congress and the American people toward the aggression of th e dictators. This Bill marks promulgation of an affirmative foreign policy for the United States. Best of all, it is a policy that comes from the people’s Congress, so that the Dictators will know that the Democracies, in times ol‘ great emergency, can say it in a democrat c, but in an effective way.” Informed circles said that Mr Roosevelt will freeze all foreign funds in the United States a s soon as Congress passes the Lend Lease Bill. It is said that the executive orders are already drawn up. Friendly nations, for example Britain, China, Greece and Latin Americas, would, be issued general licenses, making it possible to withdraw funds at will. Colonel Knox and Mr Roosevelt conferred at the White House, on the question of the possibility of' transferring more destroyers to Britain after which Colonel Knox stated that he had not revised his original opinion, but he had not precluded the possibility that Mr Roosevelt might over-rule him. LONDON, February" 12. The Under-Secretary for War (Mr Patterson) announced that 137,096,000 dollars’ worth of contracts have been negotiated for an immediate start on fortifying six of the Atlantic bases leased from Britain. ! How German agents were trying ~ to control and restrict United States j defence production was revealed in evidence given before the Federal Monopolies Committee. Foreign companies, it" was stated, were tak- | ing out United States, patents on essential war material in an effort to hinder or block production.

U.S.A. LAND BOMBER FOR BRITAIN . (Received February 14. 8 p.m.) ■' WASHINGTON, February 13. It is reported that the first fourmotored Consolidated land bomber will leave for England within a week. It has a speed of over three hundred miles per hour, a range of three thousand miles, and capacity of four tons.

,SEN ATE-;- COM-MITTEE REPORT. (Received February 14. 8.0 p.mJ. WASHINGTON, February 13. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, by a majority, reported that the Aid to Britain ■ BT! carries out the United States foreign policy, based on two fundamental principles:

United States must strive in all ways reasonably possible, for to stay peace in al*, t’he world: Secondly, the United States muSty in ' its own interests, supply effective material aid to' those' countries whose defence is vital for our own defence.”

The Committee’s report has revealed that the Administration has considered' th e "matter of specifically naming the countries to which aid could be given,, but' decided that it was “not wise,” because “the scene could change' in the hear future, so that the defence of Argentine and Turkey might "also btr vital for.rdur defence.”"

The majority report also says: “No one to-day, in our best interests, can determine definitely whether,-for example, Ireland, Brazil, dr what parts of North America should have our material aid to-morrow.”