Evening star., 1940-10-30
Administration Open!
Intensive Study on
More Aid 10 Britain
English Plea for Plane
Factories in U. S.
May Be Revived

The administration has begun an
intensive study of how its industrial
assistance to Great Britains war
effort may be extended, arousing
speculation anew on whether the
British are reviving their earlier
request for construction of aircraft
factories in the United States to
produce only planes for Britain.
The Glenn Martin plant near
Baltimore already has under way a
special British plane division, but 1t
can not satisfy in any large degree
the whole British need.
The officials, both American and
British, who are chiefly concerned
with the British-assistance program
declined to discuss for publication
any aspect of their present aims, al
though they conferred at length yes
terday in the Office of Secretary of
the Treasury Morgenthau. Mr. Nor
genthau met first with leading Amer
ican defense officials and then with
Arthur Purvis, head of the British
Purchasing Commission. MIR. Purvis
was at his own Office until past
midnight this morning, and talked
by telephone with London.
Bombers and Steel Needed.
The extension of the wars front
to Southeastern Europe affects Eng
lish military industry in two i'm
portant ways-it makes necessary
the production of more long-range
bombing planes and it puts a
further tax on the British steel in
dustry, essential to all the arms in
dustries. England, whose factories
are in constant danger of lombard
ment from German planes, is eager
for more planes and more steel
from the United States.
The reports of Ambassador Joseph
P. Kennedy on the British industrial
situation, given since his return to
this country, have been a factor in
the new American study.
This country is making only slow
progress in its own policy of speed
ing up industry to the point where it
can satisfy its own arming program
especially in the output of finished
Steel and planes. The administra-
tion's defense program has been de-
veloped as long-range noe, but the
British needs are urgent. If the ad-
ministration receives the British re-
quest with full sympathy, the next
two months may see wide revision
nf thn Ar11nriaoY fny.
fense industry.
Secrecy Surrounds Meeting.
Philip Young, Mr.. Morgenthau's
assistant on the Presidents Com
mittee to Coordinate British and
American War Purchases, attended
the meeting, in the Secretary s
Office, which was conducted in
greatest secrecy. Mr.. Purvis was ac-
companied by Sir Henry Self, British
aircraft expert, and two other Eng
lishmen whose names were not
available. The American Office of
the British Ministry of Aircraft Pro-
duction, of which Sir Henry is a
member, will move here from New
York, November 8.
The United States defense leaders
who conferred with Mr.. Morgenthau
included:
Secretary of War Stimson, Sec
retary of the Navy Knox, Secretary
Of Commerce Jones, Defense Com
missioners Knudsen and Stettinius
and Donald M. Nelson, co-ordina-
tor of defense procurement; Gen.
George o. Marshall, chief of staff,
U. S. A., and James v. Forrestal,
Undersecretary of the Navy.
Neither the American nor the
English officials would comment on
their talks. Mr.. Purvis left the
Treasury by the Secretary's private
elevator and proceeded at once to
his own Office, where he was in
conference with his own staff and
with London until long after mid
night.