GOODS FOR RUSSIA

Southland Times, Issue 24565, 14 October 1941, Page 5

GOODS FOR RUSSIA

MOSCOW TALKS LORD BEAVERBROOK’S DESCRIPTION (8.0.W.) RUGBY, October 12. An interesting description of. the Moscow meeting was given, in a broadcast tonight by the Minister of Supply, Lord Beaverbrook, head of the British Mission. He first described the machinery of the meetings. “Six mixed committees of British, American and Russian representatives were appointed and, after working all day, they presented their reports to their respective governments,” he said. “Then, as night fell, Mr Harriman (Leader of the American Mission) and I drove up the hill to the Kremlin and there, in consultation with M. Stalin and M. Molotov, with M. Litvinov as interpreter, we co-ordinated, defined and then considered the findings of the day. “But we did not rely entirely on our interpreter, M. Litvinov. We also defined a plan for speeding this up and that up and that worked wonders. Before going to the Kremlin w T e tried to anticipate M. Stalin’s questions. We prepared answers which were translated into Russian. So, when the questions came, instead of making statements through M. Litvinov, it was our habit to hand across the table to M. Stalin a complete answer all typed out in his own language. MEETINGS AT EMBASSY “When the nightly meetings at the Kremlin were over Mr Harriman and I would meet again at the British Em-

bassy, conferring with our colleagues, going over preparations for the next day, examining our resources, inquiring into Russian requests, discussing a long list of raw materials, and making up statements of the necessary shipping facilities. “The conclusions we reached were to supply these and that out of the resources of Britain and the United States, each bearing a full share of the burden. The Russians are now being supplied with much that they asked for and certainly all that at present we can give them. “As for tanks and aircraft, the numbers M. Stalin asked for have been promised. And lest there be any confusion let it be said that the full numbers promised for the month of October have been provided. We have promised also a few big guns, plenty of good guns and plenty of ammunition. We have promised, too, raw materials, aluminium, copper, lead, zinc, tin, cobalt, brass, rubber, jute, wool, phosphorus and diamonds and shellac and a long list of other requirements. Of these I have mentioned practically everything asked by the Russians has been agreed to. “Petroleum products have been provided by the United States according to Russian requirements. Several raw materials remain for further inquiry here and in Washington. Many of these are highly specialized and a decision must wait upon examination in detail.

“It was at that memorable meeting on Tuesday night, September 30, that M. Stalin’s demands were finally formulated. For three days we had listened to a long tale of Russian needs. For three days our committees had been ceaselessly at work considering these requirements and compiling lists for Mr Harriman and for me. Then came the night journey to the Kremlin. We must give our reply. We must make plain. just how much we could do and just what part of the burden we could bear, how great a share in the battle we could take. And we were already quite ready with our answers. FAMILIAR LISTS “The interpreter began solemnly and slowly and anxiously read out each item. But there was little need for his services. The lists were familiar to us. We had studied them for long. Most things we were ready to supply and the answers came straight from Mr Harriman or from me. He said ‘Agreed’ if the item concerned the United States. I said ‘Okay’ when Britain was producing’ the supplies. And as the list rolled on M. Litvinov sprang up from his seat crying out with enthusiasm.

M. Stalin’s relief was manifest. He was pleased, he was confident, and he was satisfied. Is he an easy man to satisfy? Not so. He is an exacting man even though he does not look it. He is short of stature. Well dressed, very well dressed, and there is nothing slovenly about him. “The Russians have most skilfully developed two new types of aircraft. One is the M.1.G.3 fighter, whiefh corresponds in the excellence of its design and performance to our Hurricanes and Spitfires. Just as these machines are superior to the German fighters in the west, so have the Messerschmitts on the Eastern Front met their match in the M.I.G. 3’s. There is another new type. It is the Stormovik dive-bomber. Heavily armoured, this aircraft has proved an outstanding success in attacking troop concentrations and breaking up enemy formations., “Colonel Lyon—of the American Air Force—tells of the decision to construct an airfield for the reception of the British and American aircraft we have been sending to Russia. A forest was cleared, a swamp was drained, and a road was driven through. Two long and wide runways were constructed. Yet that field was completed within 30 days. EXPERIENCED PILOTS “Now, you may ask, can the Russians use to the best advantage the weapons made for them at home and abroad, in Britain and in the United States? Yes. Their pilots are of the very best. Just as experienced as pilots anywhere. And the mechanics who service their aircraft compare in all respects with the mechanics of Britain and of the United States. Indeed, the Russians have a genius for mechanization.

“The Russian Prime Minister knows that the people of Britain will see this job through,” said Lord Beaverbrook. , “He knows that they mean to fight to the conclusion, to carry on till victory is won. And it is my belief that the people of Russia are possessed of the same determination. They bear at present the full brunt, fire and burden of the enemy’s attack, and their courage and determination in the face of adversity, their abiding faith in Russia, their love of their country which prompts them to destroy their heritage rather than let it fall into the hands of the barbarian invader has commanded mounting admiration alike in the Old World and the New.” Lord Beaverbrook concluded with this pledge: “We will forgo food from abroad if ships are needed for Russia. We will give up our pleasure if munitions are required to defend their cities. We will endure the shadows with them and the sunshine we will share with them. M. Stalin must be sustained, the Soviet Union must be enabled to enter the spring campaign with adequate supplies of all munitions of war.”