LEND-LEASE SUPPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25203, 16 May 1945, Page 7

LEND-LEASE SUPPLY

POSITION OF RUSSIA PART IN FAR EASTERN WAR (Reed. 7.80 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 14 The acting-Secretary of State, Mr Joseph Grew, clarifying the statement made on Saturday by ' the Foreign Economic Administrator, Mr Leo Crowlev, confirmed that in view of the changes in the military situation substantial reductions in lend-lease to Russia may be expected. However, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Times. Russian lend-lease will be reviewed and continued where justified on the basis of adequate information regarding the essential nature of Soviet military requirements and in the light of 'competing demands. Mr Grew's statement, says the correspondent, indicates that future lendlease may be governed by the Soviet's part in the Far Eastern war. The supply programme for the United Kingdom, India, Australia and New Zealand and the British colonies, following the defeat of Germany, has been agreed in discussions between British and American representatives. This programme will be carried out with such adjustments as supply considerations may require from time to time. Mr Grew said the presence of American troops in war-devastated European areas, their supply and redeployment, almost certainly necessitated lend-lease shipments. The United Press quotes a Government official, whom it does not name, as saying that European nations deliberately over-estimated their lendlease requirements in order to build up reserves for post-war civilian use. The official particularly mentioned France, the United Kingdom and Russia. He said France had built up a sufficient cotton supply to last for half of 1946. SWEDEN'S SEA TRADE LONDON, May 11 Sweden's sea lanes to the world were officially reopened today after five years of German blockade, says a Stockholm ipessage. Four Swedish ships, carrying paper pulp, left Gothenburg this morning for American and Spanish ports.