THE LEASE AND LEND BILL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 285, 19 March 1941, Page 4

THE LEASE AND LEND BILL

THE German commentator who remarked that the passing of the Lease and Lend Bill by the Senate«and the House of Representatives of the American Parliament, made no real difference,, was probably not intending to speak the truth, but he was possibly more correct than he would, like to be the case. The President of the United Sta,tes of America had been acting on the assumption that the measure would be enacted and the programme of help for Britain had been proceeding on that assumption. It follows, therefore, that the lengthy discussions on the Bill did not hold up the aid which America intends to afford the Allies in their fight a,gainst Germany. The main line of German comment during the discussion was that such discussion was futile in any case, because American aid oould not arrive in Britain in time to be of use when the German offensive was launched during the spring. The German commentators were unfortunate, therefore, in their choice of arguments, for tlie one contradicted the other. The real point of interest, however, is that the Germans are being prepared for a much longer struggle than they have been, worked up to believing to be ahead of them. It is now admitted that American ai|d to Britain may prolong the war: which is half way to saying that it will prove a decisive factor in Germany's defeat.