LEND-LEASE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 61, 13 March 1942, Page 5

LEND-LEASE

OPERATIONS FOR YEAR REVIEW BY ROOSEVELT AID FOR UNITED NATIONS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.5 p.m.) Washington, March 11. President Roosevolt, in a message to Congress reporting an analysis of the first year’s Lend-Lease operations, said it was a prime mechanism by which the United Nations were pooling their entire resources. “The offensive which the United Nations must and will drive into the heart of tne Axis would take the entire Strength we possess. The war can be won only by contact with our enemies ana by an attack upon them. That takes time, for the United Nations need more equipment and transportation. Success will come dearly at the price of defeats and losses.” The report showed that since .he original Lend-Lease was enacted the total value of aid was 2,570,000.000 dollars, including not only military items such as guns, tanks and planes but raw materials, machinery, food and ships and the expansion of production facilities and services. The President said that Lend-Lease aid but for which the enemy might now be battering at our own ports and gateways, had expedited the productive capacity of weapons and munitions and provided lessons of untold value by tests of weapons in combat. “Lend-Lease may be thanked for the combined strength of the United Nations, with which combined strength we go forward along the steep road to victory.” he said. Congress has authorised a total of 48,006,000 000 dollars for Lend-Lease aid. Commenting on the contrast between the comparatively small actual expenditure with the large amount authorised, Mr. Roosevelt said: “The amount of aid supplies to date is impressive as an abstract figure, but it is far short of what is needed to turn the tide to victory. Although many persons have inferred that the quantity of material transferred is enormous, the hard fact is that in relation to the need the volumes have been small. Deliveries are inadequate because of the time and effort required to revolutionise our industrial system.” PRIORITY FOR RUSSIA SUPPLIES FROM U.S.A. (Reed. 5.50 p.m.) Rugby. March 11. The news from Washington that United States industry has been ordered to give Russia priority over all other countries in the supply of war material is noted with satisfaction. Deliveries to Russia from the United States are confidently expected to increase. At the same time it was officially stated in Washington that, pending satisfactory assurances from Vichy, the despatch ot foodstuffs, and medical supplies from the United States to French North Africa has been suspended.—B.O.W.