AMERICA’S AID

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 153, 31 May 1941, Page 7

AMERICA’S AID

ESSENTIAL TO VICTORY. WASHINGTON, May 30. Lord Halifax told the Press that lie predicted that Britain would have the night bomber problem solved in a few weeks. He said Britain would “light on” regardless ol the extent of United States aid, because “there can be no peace with a mad dog.” This referred to reports that Britain was ready to conclude a separate peace unless the United States entered the war quickly. Lord Halifax warmly praised President Roosevelt’s speech, which, he said, had heartened Britain. Lord Halifax emphasised, however, that Britain was depending on the United States’s aid, adding that plans to train British pilots in the United States were immeasurably helpful. He said he was not familiar with Mr Eden’s speech j on war aims, but was sure that, in j speaking of keeping Germany powerless to wage another war, Air Eden I referred only to military restrictions. Lord Halifax predicted t-liat ultimate peace will l>e made by Britain, the United States, Latin American nations. and “those who wish to remain

free.” The New York Times says: "Faced with a prospective shortage of steel, Mr Edward Stcttinius (Priorities Director of tlic Office for Production Management) has signed a general preference order designed to give defence and essential civilian needs first call on all kinds of steel.’''

The New York Times says 13 passenger liners and cargo vessels totalling 200.000 tons were to-dav ordered to he withdrawn from merchant routes for employment as military auxiliaries. Shipping circles heard reports that many other vessels will shortly l>e commandeered for a huge fleet of transports. A Gallup survey shows that the number of voters believing the United States will enter the war has doubled since hostilities started. The current poll shows that 85 per cent, believe the tjnitcd States will fight, compared with 46 per cent in February, 1940. The Herald-Tribune »ays a survey, by the student division of the Federated Union shows that 91 per cent-, of editors of three hundred college newspapers want England to win and 47 per cent, favoured United States participation at an unspecified future date.

The Attorney-General announces that the high-ranking Nazi Party member, Dr. Kurt Keith, was arrested in New York and taken to Ellis Island, pending deportation proceedings. He is charged with giving a false explanation of his entry into the United States.

The New York Herald-Tribune on .May 24 said Dr. Keith, .i German diplomat, was in New York attempting a new high-pressure task of economic appeasement. He was charged with the job of buying the rich Americanowned oil properties in Eastern Europe which at present arc almost valueless to Americans.