MEMORABLE AGREEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1940, Page 6

MEMORABLE AGREEMENT

BETWEEN BRITAIN AND UNITED STATES Mr Churchill on Measures of Mutual Assistance EXPANSION OF NAVAL STRENGTH REFERENCES TO AIR WARFARE (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) RUGBY, September 5. The Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, prefaced his eagerly awaited speech in the House of Commons with the announcement that it was proposed that the House s ou adjourn today until September 17 and should meet also on September 18 and 19. __ Referring to the agreement with the United states, ivir Churchill said: “These memorable transactions between Britain and the United States, which I foreshadowed when I last addressed the- House, have now been completed to the satisfaction of the British and American peoples and to the encouragement of our friends all over the world. It would be a mistake to try to read into the official Notes more than the documents bear on their faces. The exchanges are simply measures of mutual assistance rendered to one another by two friendly nations, in a spirit of confidence, sympathy and goodwill. These measures are linked together in a formal agreement. They must be accepted or rejected. “Only very ignorant persons,’’ Mr Churchill continued, “would suggest that the transfer of American destroyers to the British flag constitutes the slightest violation of international law or affects in the smallest degree the non-belligerency of the United States. No doubt Hitler will not like this transference of destroyers. I do. No doubt he will pay the United States out if ever he gets a chance. That is why lam very glad the armed air and naval frontiers of the United States have been advanced along a wide arc into the Atlantic Ocean, and that this will enable them to take the danger by the throat while it is still hundreds of miles away from their homeland. , The Admiralty tells us also that they are very glad to have these fifty destroyers and that they will come in most conveniently to bridge the gap which inevitably intervenes before our considerable war programme of new construction comes into service. “I SUPPOSE,” SAID MR CHURCHILL, “THE HOUSE REALISES THAT WE ARE GOING-TO BE A GOOD DEAL STRONGER NEXT YEAR AT SEA THAN WE ARE NOW, THOUGH THAT IS QUITE STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE WORK IN HAND.” “There will be no delay in bringing the American ers into active service. In fact, British crews are already meeting them at the various ports where they are being delivered. That is a case of what one might call the long arm of coincidence.’’ Referring to recent events affecting Rumania, Mr Churchill said: “We do not propose to recognise any territorial change which takes place during the war unless with the free consent and goodwill of the parties concerned.’’ The Premier, referring to air raids, said 1,075 civilians ; had been killed during August in Britain and a slightly greater number seriously injured, About 800 houses had been destroyed or damaged beyond repair.