THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES Tuesday, June 17, 1941. AMERICAN CONVOYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24635, 17 June 1941, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES Tuesday, June 17, 1941. AMERICAN CONVOYS

The sinking by a U-boat of the United States vessel, Robin Moor, with the usual disregard for the safety of the passengers and crew, and an increasing disregard of American status as a nonbelligerent, has naturally excited angry comment. The striking statement of the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr Morgenthau, that “ we must choose whether we would rather die on our feet than live our knees,” typifies the United States Administration’s view, that on the struggle now being waged by the British Empire depends the future independence of America. In providing armaments and food supplies for Great Britain, in arranging a shipping “pool” of at least 2,000,000 tons, upon which the British can draw in transporting the supplies, and in establishing a neutrality patrol which assists the British Navy in detecting enemy shipping raiders, President Roosevelt has already made a great contribution to democracy’s cause. Mr Anthony Eden’s statement that the Battle of the Atlantic is not going as Herr Hitler would wish it can be accepted, on the evidence of recent reports, as representing the position to-day, and there is no reason for a loss of confidence in the ability of the British to maintain the Atlantic life-line. But the very seriousness of that battle serves to emphasise the importance of sea-power in the war against the Nazis. Sea supremacy is, as Sir Ronald Cross has declared, essential, and its maintenance is imposing an increasing strain on the ships of the Royal Navy, which are dispersed practically throughout the world at vital points. It is illogical that, while American industry is being geared, to produce for Great Britain and while American ships are being placed at 'the disposal of the British., a considerable proportion both of ships and cargoes is being lost en Voyage. The irony of the position is emphasised; in such warning statements from Berlin as that of a German admiral, who declares that “ decisions must be made, even if the consequences are grave.” Such pronouncements, designed to discourage American assistance to Great Britain in ’the despatching of supplies, can only be read as a prelude to action. The sinking of Robin Moor, in circumstances that permitted no possibility of error as to the ship’s nationality, underlines the Nazi determination to make war on United States shipping as necessity and opportunity dictate. The failure of the United States to anticipate such a breach by undertaking to provide convoys on »the transatlantic, routes is causing a huge ■waste of valuable cargoes and vessels, and must tend to prolong the struggle against Hitler. Yet the latest poll of public opinion in America gives a clear majority in favour of naval convoys. Prominent Americans, including members of Mr Roosevelt’s Cabinet, and Mr Wendell Willkie, have for long urged the extension of protection to ships which are carrying goods to the British in the defence of democracy. Tn an address last month Mr Stimson, the Secretary for War, put this question in its proper perspective before the people of *the United States. If the protection of the British fleet were removed, he said, the United States navy’s ability would “at one’e shrink to but an impotent fraction of what it could do at the present moment.” America has the opportunity now of making use of the United States fleet to assist the British Navy in preserving control of the oceans; or America must take "a chance on the ability of Great Britain to win through alone, to the advantage of the United States. This is a clear choice, involving risks whatever decision is made. The reluctance of the United States to make the decision to provide convoys is, meanwhile, making the task of Great Britain heavier, while every shipload of material from the United States 'lost is postponing the day of ultimate victory both in the Battle of the Atlantic and over Naziism itself. .'