Halifax Sums Up U.S. Reactions, Production

Northern Advocate, 17 September 1941, Page 4

Halifax Sums Up U.S. Reactions, Production

(Rec. Noon.) RUGBY. September 16. The overwhelming mass of American people, from their own angle, are just as alive to the menace to the things they value as are the British. The British Ambassador to Washington (Lord Halifax), made this statement at a Press conference in London today in reply to a question regarding the trend of United States opinion. It was perhaps fairly true to say. Lord Halifax said, that while there was a small percentage at either extreme. the opinion of the great block of middle opinion was broadly prepared to follow the course of events as they developed and to follow whatever lead the Administration might give. Anxious To Help As regards the use by Britain of Lease-Lend assistance, though there may have been misunderstanding from time to time, broadly speaking the American people were deeply impressed by the fashion in which the British Commonwealth was standing up to the ordeal and anxious to help in any way they could. American production methods were different and they produced with a great roll, whereas British methods were more on lines of improvisation. It was pretty safe to feel, however, as the weeks and months passed, that production was going to gain momentum. The crucial point of British and American war efforts were more and more centred round production. Till now they had constantly had to scale down their needs to fit the capacity. Now, and more than ever because of the Russian events, the need was for scaling up capacity to meet needs. Gallant Russians No illusion, he thought, was held as to how great a service had been done by the gallant—surprisingly gallant—resistance by Russia, during a time which he believed we had been putting to good use and it was not helpful to sit down and say that the dish of production must now be divided between three. The dish must be made bigger. Questioned regarding the British attitude towards a possible continuation of American defence zone extensions after the war, Lord Halifax said he thought this attitude had been clearly shown by the British action in leasing bases to America. He would look forward to the continued close working together of Britain and America in the days of peace.