EXTENT OF U.S. AID

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21820, 25 November 1940, Page 7

EXTENT OF U.S. AID

Half Of Present Output By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright HYDE PARK, November 22. President Roosevelt said to-day that the United States was doing everything possible at present to send aid to Britain, and he inferred that the present fifty-fifty rule, under which Britain gets half of the United States prcduction, represents just about America’s maximum assistance in the present circumstances. The President said that talk of additional aid on the basis of the country’s present production capacity was not more than glittering generalities that meant absolutely nothing. He made it clear that he saw no likelihood of more extensive aid, at least for the time being. Mr Roosevelt said that there was no real basis for talk of new measures for aiding Britain. He said that there was nothing In the Government’s plans to indicate the possibility of extending credits to Britain or using United States warships to convoy British shipments part of the way across the Atlantic. Financial Problem Urgent A message from New York states that the British Ambassador (Lord Lothian) returned by air. He said: “Britain’s financial problem is urgent. If we are to get through 1941, which we believe will be a tough year, something will have to be done about finances.” He added that he would not attempt to say what form assistance should take, but munitions, ships and financial aid were the three things that Britain needs. Lord Lothian said that Britain would continue to pay cash for war mater- is bought in the United States for only six to 12 months. After the* effective aid for Britain must be credits. “Mr Roosevelt’s programme is very fine. It is one thing and the matter of pay' 7 is another.”