72,000 WARPLANES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23719, 27 July 1940, Page 11

72,000 WARPLANES

COLOSSAL NEW SCHEME RECEPTION IN AMERICA EVERY FACILITY PLEDGED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright WASHINGTON, July 25 The Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Henry Morgenthau, said the United States had pledged itself to provide every facility to enable the British to buy 3000 aeroplanes a month, in addition to the huge orders already placed. This would require the construction of new factories, for which the British had promised to pay. He added that the Treasury and the War and Navy Departments were in complete accord regarding the commitment, and details were being worked out by Mr. W. S. Knudsen, executive vice-president of the General Motors Corporation. Undoubted Ability to Pay The new factories, Mr. Morgenthau said, would give the United States a capacity to build a number far in excess of President Roosevelt's announced goal of 50,000 annually. Mr. Morgenthau said the British wanted 72.000 aeroplanes over the period 1941 and 1942, additional to existing contracts. "From the standpoint of national defence," he said, "that is the best thing that has happened this year." The British proposal was seriously received and considered. They had agreed to study the proposals and had given the British every possible facility to place orders and'get delivery. The cost would be colossal, but the British seemed to have plenty of money and he had no doubt of their ability to pay. Proposals "Fantastic" Officials deny Lord Beaverbrook's statement that the Ignited States has approved the delivery of 3000 aeroplanes a month to Britain. They admit they are considering an expansion of production to at least 60,000 annually, to enable accommodation of the British order. 1 Private aircraft authorities describe the British proposals as fantastic, saying that American production is not more than 600 aeroplanes a month at present. RATIONING IN ITALY BREAD AND MEAT LIMITED (Received July 2(>, 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. July 2G A restriction on bread served in restaurants is announced in Rome. It is announced that beef, veal, pork and mutton will not be available on Tuesdays. Only rabbits or entrails may be eaten on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The Italian Ministry of Agriculture reports that corn, rice, potatoes and beans promise an exceptionally favourable harvest.

It is officially stated in Rome that the wheat crop is estimated at 73,000,000 quintals, which is 7,700,000 below the average of the last three years. GIFTS FROM EMPIRE MONEY FOR AEROPLANES (Received July 20, 5.33 p.m.) LONDON, July 25 The Royal Calcutta Turf Club has vdted £BB,OOO for the purchase of Spitfires, and has also made a large investment in defence bonds. A British official wireless message says that further gifts received from the Empire include £6200* from the Grenada War Purposes Committee, £oooo of which is allocated to the purchase of a fighter aeroplane, £2OOO from the Seychelles Islands, and a further gift of £9OOO from the South African High Commission territories, consisting of £4OOO from Basutoland, £4IIJ from Bechuanaland and £9OO from Swaziland.