NAVAL BARTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 August 1940, Page 5

NAVAL BARTER

SUGGESTED IN UNITED STATES BRITISH BATTLESHIPS FOR DESTROYERS. SENATOR PITTMAN’S VIEW. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) WASHINGTON, August 6. Senator Pittman, commenting on General Pershing’s proposal that the United States make available 50 oldage destroyers to the .British Navy, suggested that America exchange the destroyers for British battleships, “which do not seem to be of much use in the close waters of the North Sea, but if sent to Canada would provide an asset that would justify many sacrifices by the United States. “Such an exchange might eliminate the legal difficulties entailed in an outright transfer of destroyers to Britain,” he said. He added that he agreed with General Pershing’s arguments on the value of the Royal Navy in preserving the Empire and keeping the war from America. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” states, a New York message reports, that a check of the highest staff men in the Navy Department indicates that they oppose the transfer of destroyers on the ground that the vessels are necessary as means to carry out the United States’ commitments to protect Havana in the event of an emergency.