INCREASED AID FOR BRITAIN LIKELY

Southland Times, Issue 24244, 30 September 1940, Page 5

INCREASED AID FOR BRITAIN LIKELY

Discussion On Pacific In Washington SPAIN MAY BE DRAWN INTO WAR (United Press Association —Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 29, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 29. Washington reports state that there are indications that the United States answer to the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Alliance may take the form of increased aid to Britain. Signs of this multiplied during a series of important conferences. The British Ambassador (the Marquess of Lothian) and Sir Walter Layton conferred first with the Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) and then with the President (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt), whom Lord Lothian told: “Britain needs more of everything quickly.” Later Mr Roosevelt conferred with the defence chiefs and the Secretary of the Treasury (Mr Henry Morgenthau), who is co-ordinator of United States and British Army purchases. Later the Cabinet met. Lord Lothian revealed that he discussed the Pacific with Mr Hull and also considered problems relating to the establishment of United States bases on sites leased under the destroyer deal. Mr Roosevelt received a delegation of 87 from all parts of the nation urging further immediate aid to Britain. The spokesman of the delegation stated later: “We were enthusiastically encouraged.” Reports from Honolulu that parts of the United States Fleet have left for Manila have not been confirmed. Apparently the main striking strength is still centred at Honolulu, although 30 ships, including four battleships, left for San Diego last week for repairs and leave. The Rome correspondent of the British United Press says that the authorities predict that the Axis will shortly sign an agreement with Spain more militant than the Axis pact with Japan. It will be tantamount to bringing Spain into the war. The signing of the pact between Japan, Germany and Italy is featured in all the newspapers in Tokyo today. It is treated as an epoch-making event likely to result in a speedy solution of the China incident. Nevertheless one point is exercising the minds of many Japanese people, namely, what will happen if Egypt decides to declare war on Italy and if she does officially become a belligerent, will the joint military action foreseen in the pact come into effect?