AMERICAN AID

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

AMERICAN AID

FOREIGN SHIPPING SEIZURE QUESTION LENDING OF ARMAMENTS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received December 27, 5.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 20 According to the Washington correspondent of die New York Times, official sources said that the possible seizure of foreign ships in American ports—including Danish, (Jerman and Italian vessels —had cleared the legal and financial hurdles. Only a statement by President Roosevelt and the State Department on the policy to be adopted was necessary. Whether Mr. Roosevelt would announce a decision by radio was a matter For conjecture, but informed circles were of the opinion that the policy decision had been delayed. Statement Wanted More than I -"*() prominent persons have sent a joint telegram to the President expressing complete approval of Mr. Roosevelt's plan to lend or lease armaments to Britain. The signatories have asked Mr. Roosevelt to inform the nation ''clearly and boldly on the possibilities of an English failure ami the consequences loins. our children, and our children s children should Britain tail. ••\Ve ask you," the message adds, ''to make it a settled policy ot the ! inted States to do everything necessary to ensure the deleat ot the Axis, and thus encourage here and everywhere resistance to plausible but. fatal arguments of appeasement. ''We ask you to tell us what wo believe to he the truth —that the war materials and military and naval strength we now have, and the implements that can he produced, are enough to make a defeat of the Axis certain while Britain is on her feet fighting; but that, with Britain down, they will not lie enough, and may not in the Future he increased enough to hold the whole world at bay." Peace Suggestions The message is signed by newspaper editors, lawyers, authors, actors and educational, religious and labour leaders. Senator A. 11. Yandeuherg (Republican), predicting that ultimately there will be a negotiated peace, urged that America should address inquiries to all concerned. He said such inquiries would he "particularly effective it the obvious price of a refusal of a just and realistic, formula were our own powerfully enlarged activity." Senator Rush Holt (Democrat), in a radio broadcast, asked Mr. Roosevelt to bring Britain and Germany to the peace table. "You may call this appeasement," he said. "1 call it common sense." PRESIDENT'S VIEWS TOPICS IN COMING SPEECH LIKELY TO BE VERY SPECIFIC (Received December 27, P. 30 p.m.) LONDON*. Dec. 27 Mr. Roosevelt in his speech on Sunday night is expected to discuss United States' aid to Britain, and an increase in American production of war materials. The President's private secretary, Mr. Stephen Early, said he thought that Mr. Roosevelt would he very specific in what he said about aid to Britain. In a message to the International Student Service Conference, President Roosevelt said: '"The prolonged conflict between two ideologies of life is becoming a struggle to the death between power and might and the freedom of man. The outcome cannot be doubted if youth will put its mind and heart to the task. Victory calls for every bit of courage and self-sacrifice this generation possesses." FRENCH NAVAL CHIEF CONFERENCE IN PARIS HIGH NAZI PERSONALITY (Received December 27. 5.35 p.m.) VICHY, Dec. 26 The commander-in-chief of the French Navy, Admiral-of-the-Fleet .Francois Darlan, returned from a conference with a "very high" German personality in Paris. He immediately reported to Retain. BRAVERY AT SEA NEW WAR MEDAL MERCHANT AND FISHING FLEET (Received Drcmibc - 27, •">.■'!s p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 2ft Lloyd's Committee is striking a new medal to he called "Lloyd s Mar Modal for Bravery at Sea." for bestowal on officers and men of the merchant navy and fishing fleet for exceptional gallantry in wartime. The medal will rank with Lloyd's Medal for Saving Life at Sea, which is called the "V.C. of the ocean."