AMERICA’S AID

Grey River Argus, 14 March 1941, Page 3

AMERICA’S AID

LEASE AND LEND BILL HELP FOR DEMOCRACIES, ROOSEVELT'S LETTER TO CONGRESS. WASHINGTON, March 12. In a letter to the Speaker, Mr. Rayburn, which accompanied the Bill appropriating seven thousand million dollars, President Roosevelt wrote: “This nation feels that it is imperative to the security of America that we should encourage the democracies iu their heroic resistance to aggression, by not only maintaining but increasing the flow of material assistance from this country. Therefore, Congress enacted and I signed it.” Mr. Roosevelt added: “Through this legislation, our country is determined to do its full part in creating an adequate arsenal of democracy. This great arsenal will e here. It will be the bulwark of our defence, and it will be a source for tools of defence for all the democracies who are fighting to preserve themselves against aggression. While defence equipment produced under the law remains in control of the United States until it is ready for disposition, it is the fixed policy -of this Government to make for the democracies every gun, plane, and munition of war that we possibly can. For the accomplishment of these objectives, I am transmitting an estimate of seven billion dollars, and I strongly urge the immediate enactment of this appropriation.” RUGBY, March 12. A, remarkable demonstration of cheering followed a statement by Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons, regarding President Roosevelt’s signing of the Lease and Lend Bill: He said: “The Lease and Lend Bill became law yesterday, when it received immediately the signature of the President. I - am sure that the House will wish me to express, on its behalf and on behalf of the nation. a dear and respectful appreciation of this monument of generous, far-seeing statesmanship. The mostpowerful democracy has. in effect, declared in solemn statute that it will devote its overwhelming industrial and financial strength to ensuring the defeat of Nazism, in order that nations, great and small, may live in security, tolerance, and freedom. By so doing, the Government and people of the United States have in fact written a new Magna Carta, which not only has regard to the rights and laws upon which healthy and advancing civilisation can alone be directed, but has also proclaimed by precept and example the duty of free men and free nations, wherever they may be, to share the responsibility and the burden of enforcing them. In the name of the British Government, and speaking, I am sure, for Parliament and for the whole country, and indeed in the name of all freedom-loving peoples, I offer the United States our gratitude far its inspiring act of faith.” Seven Billion Dollars EXPENDITURE ALLOCATION. WASHINGTON, March 12. Accompanying Mr. Roosevelt’s letter was the Budget Director (Mr. Smith’s) report on how the seven billion dollars’ would be spendable, thus: First, ordnance and ordnance stores 2 343 million; second, aircraft 2,054 million; third, tanks and armoured cars, 362 million; fourth, ships 629 million; fifth, miscella'neoyis equipment 260 millions; sixth, facilities and equipment for the manufacture of defence articles 752 million; agricultural, industrial and other commodities, 350 million; seventh, testing, outfitting, and repairing any defence articles 200 million; eighth, services and expenses for carrying out unspecified portions of the programme, 40 million; ninth, administrative expenses 10 million. The Government ha's authorised the unlimited export of aviation petrol and lubricating oils to the British Empire. WORLD POLICING. GERMAN COMMENT. BERLIN, March 12. Commenting on the Lease and Lend Bill, the Wilhelmstrasse spokesman said: Neither Germany, Italy, nor Japan has the slightest intention of submitting themselves in any way to attempted world dictatorship or world policing. If such is intended, Mr. Matsuoka’s visit should serve to emphasise this. NEW YORK, March 12. Mr. Wendell Willkie said to-day that the victory of Mr. Joseph Clark Baldwin in yesterday’s New York byelection, necessitated by the death of , Mr. Kenneth Simpson, indicated that isolationism was losing. “Mr. Baldwin favours all possible aid to Britain.” MILLION OF MEN. WANTED FOR ARMS FACTORIES. (Received March 13, 8.25 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 12. The office of production and man-

agement has asked the defence industries to call on the Government Employment Agencies to find “several million” additional workers needed for the rest of this year to carry out the arms programme. U.S.A'. EXPORTS. (Received March 13, 9.45 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 12. It is officially stated that exports to British Empire countries in Janu-

■ ; ary increased by twelve per . cent., ; I ccmpared with December. This has ■ 1 coincided with a forty per cent, de- ; j cline in American exports to Japan, > I duo to the licensing oo petroleum, metals and war materials. Exports to the British Empire totalled 224 million dollars, which was sixty-five per cent, of the total exports, and included 9.710 thousand dollars to Aus- ; tralia. compared with 4,142 thousand • i last January.