INTERIM LEND-LEASE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 213, 8 September 1945, Page 5

INTERIM LEND-LEASE

SPECIAL MEASURE U.S. CONGRESS ASKED TO TIDE NATIONS OVER PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Reed. 6 p.m. Washington, Sept. 6. President Truman, in a statement about plans for what he called ‘‘lnterim Lend-Lease,” asked the United States Congress to-day for speedy action on his proposals to give America’s allies an interim measure of assistance to tide them over the gap caused by the sudden ending of the. wartime delivery plans.

‘‘We wish to maintain the flow of supplies without interruption,” he said. “Accordingly, I have directed the executive agencies to complete their conversations and studies at the earliest possible moment. I ask Congress for speedy consideration of these recommendations when they are made.”

President Truman, in a 16.000-word message to Congress, urged the speedy enactment, of a Taxation Bill providing limited reductions in 1946. He stressed that the nation must reconcile itself to tlie fact that tax reduction opportunities were limited and said that the total war effort could not be liquidated overnight. Estimating tne war expenditure for the current fiscal year at about 50,000,000.000 dollars of a total expenditure of 66 - 000,000.000 dollars, President Truman said with current receipts at about 36,000,000 dollars they faced an estimated deficit of about 30,000,000,000 dollars in the current year. President Truman recommended the full employment of legislation for unemployment compensation up to 25 dollars weekly, a substantial increase on the present, and a minimum wage level of 40 cents hourly. He added that it would be necessary, however, for the Government to resist pressure for wage increases which would imperil price ceilings. The president urged legislation creating a fair employment practice committee to prevent employment discriminations involving race, religion and colour, also legislation strengthening the Labour ‘ Department and giving it supervision of collective bargaining conciliation and voluntary arbitration. He suggested that the draft should be continued for men of 18 to 25 years for two years. REPEAL OF ACT SOUGIT

Dealing with lend-lease, President Truman recommended: Firstly, the repeal of the Johnston Act, barring private loans to nations in default on previous lending; secondly, ihe appropriation of the remaining 550,000,000 dollars authorised by Congress for United States participation in U.N.R.R.A. and the consideration of an additional commitment of 1,350, 000,000 dollars recommended as the United States additional share by a recent U.N.R.R.A council meeting. President Truman foresaw a need also for additional lending power to ensure a rapid, successful transition lo peacetime world trade. Appropriate recommendations would be made when they were completed. Exploratory conversations already had begun with their associates. “In due time we must consider the settlement of lend-lease obligations incurred during the war,” said President Truman, in his message to Congress. “We must recognise that it will not be possible for our allies to pay us dollars for tha overwhelming portion of their iend-lease obligations, hut that does not mean that all lendlease obligations are to he cancelled.” Tile President said the United States would seek to reach settlements which would permit, generally, a sound world-wide economy. As he put it, “we must turn from economic co-op-eration in war to economic co-opera-tion in peace.” He did not give details of his interim plans.

The President, recommended Congress to take early steps to increase members’ salaries from 10,000 to 20,000 dollars. He asked for legislation to e.xpedite the disposal of a large surplus tonnage of merchant ships and urged tne prompt resumption of normal operation of the merchant, marine to re-establish the nation's foreign trade. President. Truman said he would soon ask Congress for a national health programme to provide adenuate medical care for all Americans end to protect them from financial loss and hardships resulting from illness and accidents, also a broad comprehensive Housing Bill. Lord Keynes last n’ght reported on his way lo Washington from Ottawa for the talks on the end of lend-lease. The British delegation is io include Lord Halifax, who is flying back to Washington this week from Britain.