FAITH IN VICTORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24736, 13 October 1941, Page 6

FAITH IN VICTORY

RUSSIANS' GREAT SPIRIT ANGLO-AMERICAN HELP ON LEND AND LEASE BASIS RUGBY, Oct. 10. Lord Beaverbrook and Mr Harriman have returned to London, and each gave his impressions of his week's stay in Moscow. Lord Beaverbrook revealed that the munitions of war which Britain was sending to Russia were being made available on lend and lease terms. Britain did not desire to put them on a basis of payment, but on a similar basis to that on which she herself received' assistance. He emphasised the fact that supplies had been sent to Russia for some time, and that the Moscow conference was not for the purpose of initiating a great flow of supplies to Russia, but rather for providing means for Britain and America to ascertain the various categories of supplies most needed by the Soviet Union. The conference, in fact, continued the previous meetings between British and American representatives in. London. . Pleased with Extent of Help The supply of materials which the United States would send would at least equal, and might eventually exceed, the volume of supplies which Britain had contracted to send. The assistance which the United States was. sending to Russia would naturally mean certain sacrifices on the part of Britain, but Britain had never been required to make any sacrifices in the commodities which the Americans were to have sent her without previous consultation with and the agreement of Britain. Lord Beaverbrook said the Russians were well pleased with what Britain was doing in respect to supplies. Mr Harriman expressed a similar view when he said the Soviet Union was convinced n6t only of the good intentions of the United States and Britain to give every assistance, but also of the effectiveness of the assistance. A United People

Speaking of Russian morale, which Lord Beaverbrbok said was extremely high, Mr Harriman said there was no doubt as to the Soviet Union's determination to continue fighting to the end or of its faith in ultimate victory. In Mr Harriman's view, the two chief reasons for the remarkable resistance which the Russian forces and people were showing were the fact that the German invasion had produced a consolidation of the spirit of nationalism, and the fact that the Russians had made such good use of mechanisation. ■■'':-- ' . ; ' '■ To his mind, the way in which the Russians had been able Jto face the invading army was because they learned how to use machines. United States mechanics had reported that no group of British or United States airmen had ever been so quick to understand or become proficient in the use of the new types of aircraft recently diverted to Russia. Mr Harriman said the Russian population was being fed well to normal standards. The United States was assisting in improving the railway through Persia, along which some of the British and United. States supplies would reach Russia* and fn providing rolling stock. His impripssion of the Russian leaders their'vqounte Bath J and, BeaverbrbbK "were impressed by.the striking personality ©« M. Stelin, whom the latter described as. very active and clear in mind. .