WAR POTENTIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23850, 28 December 1940, Page 7

WAR POTENTIAL

'AMERICAN OUTPUT APEX A YEAR HENCE LORD LOTHIAN AND FINANCE By Telegraph • Press Association —Copyright British Wireless LONDON*. Dee. '2<> The well-known economist .Sir Waller Lay I. on, who has just returned to Britain from a Government mission lo the United States in relation to supplies, .spoke to-day of the last fortnight in the life of the .Marquess of Lothian, and reviewed the progress of American production for Britain. Lord Lothian was particularly preoccupied with the financial position and had been criticised in some quarters in both countries for having spoken bluntly about the dollar position when he landed from a Clipper in the United States alter a recent brief visit home. Sir Walter said. He knew Lord Lothian deliberately made up his mind, having given the matter great thought, when held up at Lisbon before crossing the Atlantic, that American opinion ought to have regard for the fact that finance was all a problem that had to be regularised. View Justified He was certain until the end that his judgment win correct, and his view had been amply justified by recent statements by President Roosevelt regarding his own solution ot the dollar exchange problem, ari-iug out of British war supply orders placed in the I lilted States. Sir "Walter added that in November there was a certain feeling of pessimism in America about the outeome of the war, to which such cpi-sodes as tin' bombing of Coventry had contributed, but this had been completely changed by the news of Greek victories and the British successes in Egypt. The courage of the British people in bombed English towns had created a stupendous effect in America. Must Not Expect Miracles The .British must not expect miracles. The full effect of the American war potential would not be felt before the late summer of 3041 and ! would not reach its apex until next winter and the spring of 1912. The full mass of war production had still to he organised, with its consequent effect on peace production—a unique task to be undertaken by a non-belligerent country—but it would come in a huge volume, and if Britain could hold her own throughout 1911, then American production would make the ultimate victory certain. APPEAL FROM EIRE MR. DE VALERA'S BROADCAST WEAPONS AND FOODSTUFFS LONDON, Dec. 26 Broadcasting to America last night, the Prime Minister of Eire, Mr. de Valera. appealed to "Ireland's American friends'' to lie.p them secure more weapons and foodstuffs, such as wheat. He described the press campaign as unjust. "At no time." he said, "has there been friction of any kind between us and the belligerent Governments. There has been no threat and no bullying, and we desire that this condition of affairs shtvild continue." it was untrue to suggest that the Irish peoyle were not concerned or aifected by the war. He pointed to the big number ol Irishmen in the war casualties, to the number of refugees and to the blockade.of Irish shores. "If we are attacked,'' he added, "we shall defend ourselves to the utmost of our power. We can only pray that God will give might to our arms." He fully realised what his country's neutrality decision involved. Eire had now enrolled one-quarter of its manpower for its defence, and tor these new forces weapons were needed. DESTROYER LOST FATE OF THE ACHERON ADMIRALTY ANNOUNCEMENT LONDON, Dec. 27 The loss is announced of the British destroyer Acheron, of 13.50 tons. The Acheron, which was built under I the 1927 programme, was completed in She was armed with four -L7in. guns and eight torpedo tubes, and had a, normal complement of 1 • >B. NAVAL APPOINTMENTS EAST INDIES COMMANDER (Received December '-7. 5.35 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON. Dec. 20 The King has approved tho appointment of V ice-Admiral John H. 1). Cunningham to be Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and Chief of Supplies and Transport, in succession to ViceAdmiral Geoffrey Arbnr-hnot. The latter has been appointed Commander-in-Chief iu the Last Indies in succession to Vice-Admiral Ralph Leatham.