SOVIET STRENGTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 October 1941, Page 5

SOVIET STRENGTH

MR HARRIMAN’S REPORT TO PRESIDENT FAITH IN RUSSIAN RESISTING POWER. QUESTION OF FOOD SUPPLIES. WASHINGTON, October 20. The leader of the mission which has returned from Moscow, Mr Averell Harriman, has advised President Roosevelt that he has great confidence in the ability of the Soviet Union to ,'stand up against the Nazi military machine. The Secretary to the Treasury, Mr Morgenthau, announced that the Government has advanced to the Soviet another 30,000,000 dollars against gold which Russia will send to the United States. Mr Roosevelt today saw Mr Harriman and Mr Harry Hopkins to discuss Mr Harriman’s report on the Moscow conference. Officials of the United States Department of Agriculture have suggested that Russia may turn to the United States for food supplies, particularly wheat. The import of grain through Vladivostok would release Siberian grain for European Russia. Agricultural Department reports show that little live stock and no farm machinery have been left undestroyed by the Russians in the areas occupied by the Germans. Thousands of Protestant bishops, clergy and editors have sent a letter to Mr Roosevelt appealing for all-out aid to Russia. The letter declared that the Communist “infiltration” in the United States is exaggerated, and stated, “Not one member of any branch of our Government is a Communist.”