The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

The news also was relayed to President Roosevelt, now cruising in Caribbean waters, via naval radio It was expected that he would issue a statement through the White House here.
 Lothian's most important task in recent days was to clear the way for possible American financial aid He first preached the subject from the White House steps after he had called on MT. Roosevelt following his return from trip to London.
 Revealed Finances.
 He had given unofficial recognition to Britain's financial problems priol to his WhNe House visit when, or landing in New York from trans Atlantic clipper plane, he said:
 It is well known that our imam cial problem is urgent. If we are to get through 1941-which we be- lieve will be a tough year-some- thing will have to be done about finances"
 He added, then, that Britain need ed more planes and more munitions and perhaps 8 little financial help"
 During the early days of the war Lothian had directed much of the American relief work for his war suffering countrymen.
 Later. Lothian turned his energies to more pressing business-the large-scale acquisition of American planes, guns, tanks, and shipS-as the tempo of the war increased.
 Lothian had many friends III the United States, dating back to his long tenure as secretary ot the Rhodes scholarship fund which IS distributed among American college graduates for advanced work in OX- ford University.
 He travelled extensively through out the country, despite the bur- dens of his off 9, and made many speeches appealing for public sup port of the "short-of-war" aid pol icy.
 White House Caller.
 He became 8 frequent White House caller, presenting personally to MT. Roosevelt an accurate picture of Britain's plight. After he emerged from his first visit to the White House, stray ] black kitten scampered across his path. Reporters and cameramen remarked that this might be bad omen for Britain.
 Lord Lothian picked up the kitten, ..1oooJ it oy1 hic shoulder while he posed for photographers and re- marked, that it was not bad omen but good omen.
 Reporters then n-med the kitten "Peace" and made it press room pet.
 He always was realistic in his appraisal of Britain's chances i'll the war, and only last night in the Bal timore address, which was read to the gathering by Neville Butler, Elm bassy counsellor, he had said that England faced hard and a dan- gerous year" in 1921.
 On the other hand, he added, , Britain can be victorious in 1922, ''if not earlier" provided the United States continues to help with air planes, munitions, ships and on the sea and in the field of finance"
 No Immediate Family.
 Lothian, a bachelor, leaves no im- mediate family here.
 Lothian first came to Washington as the successor to Sir Ronald Lind- say, Britain's veteran emiSsary and a leader of diplomatic society in the { capital. He brought business like administration to the Embassy and won a host of official friends. Less than month ago, Lothian returned to the United States after a first hand inspection of the dam age inflicted on his homeland by German bomberS.
 He consulted almost immediately with President Roosevelt and, on leaving the White House, announced that Britain needed more Ameri- can planes and munitions, together with U. s. financial aid, to make her war effort successful.
 His allusion to possible American financial aid marked the first time that responsible British or Ameri- can official had alluded to the mat ter publicly.
 It was understood that despite his illness during the last week he had continued to work hard and long hours in his room, consulting fre- quietly with his aids and directing their activities.
 ( His duties were made more ardu- ous by the presence of British financial mission, headed by Sir [ Frederick Phillips, British under secretary of the treasury, which had arrived here to negotiate for pos sible assistance with U. s. Treas ury officials, following Lothian's own alluSion to his nations dollar needs.
 Brief Life Sketch
 The 58-year-old Philip Henry Kerr. MarquiSs of Lothian, was six fet of affability, alertnes and diplomatic skill.
 He came here in August, 1889, to become Britain'S ambassador to the United States and presented his credentials at the White House four days before the outbreak of the Eu- ropean war.
 At home as any Englishman in a