FRENCH PURCHASES.
FACILITATED BY PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19. It is revealed that Mr H. H. AVoodring (Secretary of War) and Mr Louis Johnson (Assistant-Secretary of Agriculture) protested against President Roosevelt’s instructions to co-operate with the French mission which is buying military aircraft in the United States, but the President over-ruled them.
President Roosevelt to-night admitted that lie was facilitating the purchases. He said that the transactions were perfectly legal. France had an absolute right to purchase the ’planes sold.
Other defence developments yesterday included a favourable report by the House Naval Affairs Committee on a Bill authorising a grant of 52,000,000 dollars for air and submarine bases at Guam Island and 10 other Pacific and Atlantic points. Proposals were made in both the House and Senate that the United States take possession of Wrangel Island near Alaska hold by the Soviet for use ns a “stopping place” in the chain of American air defence stations.
A Bill was also introduced by Senator King seeking the co-ordination of the army and navy air corps under a single department of national defence. It is announced that 67,000 troops will participate in the extended manoeuvres in the East this summer.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 70, 20 February 1939, Page 7
Word Count
197FRENCH PURCHASES. Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 70, 20 February 1939, Page 7
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