LEND-LEASE PLAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25173, 13 March 1943, Page 5

LEND-LEASE PLAN

ASSISTANCE FOR RUSSIA APPRECIATED BY PEOPLE (Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Mar. 11. President Roosevelt, in a message which was read at the luncheon held to commemorate the second anniversary of Lend-lease operations, said that in 1941 Herr Hitler promised the Germans a short single-front war, and that America’s aid would be too little and too late. Japan’s military junta made a similar promise. " Tima,” he said, “ has given the lie to the Axis promises, but our promises have stood the test of time, for to-day, while observing the Lend-lease anniversary, the United Nations are on the offensive. The question in 1941 was where would the Axis strike next? Now the question is, Where will the United Nations strike next? The enemy will receive the answer on battlefields of our choosing as we strike again and again. Lend-lease and reciprocal aid will contribute increasingly to the inevitable defeat of the Axis.” The Soviet Ambassador, M. Litvinov, said the supplies received by Russiq through Lend-lease were an enormous help and were deeply appreciated by the Soviet people, who were fully aware of its extent. He added that the originators of Lend-lease could hardly have found an investment yielding better dividends. Details of Operations The Lend-Lease Administrator, Mr Edward Stettinius, reported to-day that lend-lease aid now totalled 9,632,000,000 dollars, of which 90 per cent, had actually been shipped. In 22 months the United States had sent the Allies 30 per cent, of the bombers, 38 per cent, of the fighters, 28 per cent, of the light tanks, and 33 per cent, of the medium tanks of the totals produced. The total lend-lease to date was made up as follows: Dollars United Kingdom .. 4,430,000,000 Russia 1,820,000,000 Africa and Middle East 1,573,000,000 China 158,000,000 India 595,000,000 Australia 452,000,000 New Zealand .. .. 139,000,000 Other areas .. .. 459,000,000 Almost as much aid, he said, had been sent in the last six months as in the previous 18 months? A total of 1,977,000,000 dollars had been transferred in the last three months. Mr Stettinius emphasised that the four principal developments since January 1. 1943, were: (1) An increase in the proportion of lend-lease to Russia compared with Britain. (2) A sharp increase in the supplies of food for Russia. (3) The assignment of additional planes for transport routes to India and China. (4) Shipments for General Giraud’s army. Australia and New Zealand Pointing out the vast value of reciprocal lend-lease. Mr Stettinius disclosed that Australian ship yards were building hundreds of landing craft and barges for General MacArthur and had provided the American forces with scores of trawlers and coastal steamers. Australia and New Zealand had furnished 235,000,0001 bof food for the American forces in the last six months of 1942. The total American lend-lease for the Allies in the same period was 2,109,000,0001 b. Mr Stettinius added that America had received more beef, _ veal, lamb, and mutton from Australia and New Zealand in 1942 than had been given under lend-lease to all countries. A further increase in lend-lease was expected, and America particularly must be prepared to meet the requirements of Axis-occupied areas which will be liberated in the coming months. Commenting on the unanimous passage by the Senate of the Bill for the extension of lend-lease, the New York Times, in an editorial, says: “We may hope that no future* Congress will try to involve us in collecting debts which other nations cannot afford to pay and we cannot afford to receive.’’ ADMIRAL’S STATEMENT CONSTRUCTIVE INTENT LONDON, Mar. 11. The Russians have learnt for the first time about Admiral Standley’s statement. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports that all the Russian papers published accounts of British and American reactions to the incident. “Admiral Standley declined to make further comment, but I can say," states Reuter’s correspondent, “ that the statement was made with constructive intent. Admiral Standley’s viewpoint was that the more the Russian public knew about the Allied war effort in all its phases, the more easily would friendly relations be built up between the Allies. This would lay the foundation for fruitful post-war collaboration between Russia and the Western democracies.”