MISSION TO EUROPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 212, 7 September 1945, Page 5

MISSION TO EUROPE

TRUMAN’S EYES AND EARS LEND-LEASE AND BRITAIN Recd. 11 p.m. New York, Sept. 6. President Truman is sending the Chief of War Mobilisation, John Snyder, the head of the Surplus Property Board, W. S. Symington, and the Secretary of the Senate, Leslie Biffle, to Western Europe to learn firsthand Europe's needs and possibilities ot repaying the United States. Their mission is to act as the President s eyes and ears and inquire, firstly, how much Lend-Lease materials are housed in British warehuses in England and the Continent, secondly, which Allied Governments have the first allocation of available materials, and thirdly, determine the extent to which the united States can consider itself obliged to send food and coal to Britain and the liberated countries.

While President Truman sympathises with the British Economy’s plight, he is determined to a d Britain as much as and no more than required. There is reason to believe the President was taken unaware by Crowley’s order ending Lend-Lease without prior consultation with the British and otner Allied representatives. One of the mission's first assignments is consultations with Mr. Attlee and Mr. Bevin. It is firmly expected a real understanding will be reached on the arrival of the Halifax mission so that the abrupt cessation of Lend-Lease will not cause undue hardship to the British.