AID FOR BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1940, Page 5

AID FOR BRITAIN

.<> PROBLEM OF PAYMENT IN U.S.A. MENTIONED BY LORD LOTHIAN. “SOMETHING WILL HAVE TO BE DONE.” (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, November 22. The British Ambassador, Lord Lothian, returned by air. He said: “Britain’s financial problem is urgent. If we are to get through 1941, which we believe will be a tough year, something will have to be done about finances.” He added that he would not attempt to say what form the assistance should take, but munitions, ships and financial aid were the three things Britain most needed. Lord Lothian said Britain could continue to pay cash for war materials from the United States for six to 12 months. After that effective aid to Britain must be by credits. “President Roosevelt’s 50/50 programme is very fine,” he added. “But it is one thing and the matter of paying is another.” Mr Hamilton Fish said over the radio that President Roosevelt had neither the will nor the ability to keep the United States out of war. He urged the United States to take over British and French islands in the west-ern-o hemisphere in cancellation of world war debts. Credits should be extended only after British resources were exhausted. The new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations .Committee, Senator George, said the policy of full aid to the democracies would continue under his leadership of the committee.

The 8.8. C. reports Lord Lothian as stating that in Britain there was complete confidence in ultimate victory, but this did not mean the end of the war. Next year would be tough and difficult.