AID FOR BRITAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 9, 11 January 1941, Page 5

AID FOR BRITAIN

TO BE MADE LAW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE CALM RECEPTION OF BUDGET IN UNITED STATES LONDON, Jan. 9. The United States President, Mr. F. D. Roosevelt’s, draft Bill giving the United States Government broad powers to give all possible assistance to Britain and the other democracies attacked by aggressor nations, is to be expected to be read to Congress tomorrow. The Bill will be considered by both Houses, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives declared that as little time as possible would be lost in making it law. It. is pointed out that. Hie Bill is entirely new and does not. involve amendments to the Neutrality Act. It is reported in Washington that the majority of Americans who are convinced that the United States should give all possible aid to Britain have accepted the Budget proposals without: surprise. Financial houses in Wall Street have taken them calmly. More than three-fifths of the total Budget is for national defence. Observers expect that income tax, which is now a flat rate of about 4 per cent., will be raised to 10 per cent.

TERMS OF BILL HAVE BEEN DECIDED AN EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE Received Jan. 10, 9.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, Jan. 9. President F. D. Roosevelt, eight Congressional leaders and five members of Cabinet, together with Mr. W. S. Knudsen, chairman of the Special War Production Board, at a conference, reachcd a general agreement Otii a Bill authorising war-aid to the democracies. The President’s secretary, Mr. Stephen Early, termed the conference a full dress review of Mr. Roosevel’s pledge to make the United States an arsenal for the democracies. The Bill will be introduced simultaneously in both Houses ' and Senate to-morrow.

CONSTRUCTION OF FREIGHTERS U.S. PLAN TO BUILD 200 EARLY START INDICATED. Received Jan. 10, 5.5 p.m. WASHINGTON, Jan. 9. The Maritime Commissioner, Mr. E. S. Land, announced that Mr. Roosevelt's plan to build 200 freighters will be under way within ten days. He added that legislation would be necessary before actual construction could be started. iS® The Budget does not provide for the freighter plan, thus necessitating the presentation of separate estimates.