Evening star., 1940-06-14
u. ). Is Given
Blank Check
To Send Aid
Plon for Long War
Abandoned to Meet
Threat to Fronce
(Tert OF the British message to
France on page A-3J
BY MILO THOMPSON.

Associated Press Foreien Correspondent
LONDON, June 1.-THE plight
Of France has caused Great Brit
ain to drop her plans for a long
war and 60 "all out" with her
resources, sources close to the
government said today.
This releases a fund of money
and credit for purchase in Amer
lea of anything which will con-
vey or fire explosives. The fund
originally was allocated for fu-
ture years.
As result of the change in policy,
these sources said. Britain is giving
the United States a blank check. in
effect. for any kind of .usable war
material she can provide.
Everything already found pur.
chasable in America in arsenals
National Guard units and elsewhere
is being sent.
This speed-up was indicated fol-
lowing disclosure in British military
circles that Britain had sent REIN
forcements to France to Join the
Allied forces fighting behind Paris.
Nothing to Stand in Way.
No program aimed at later produc-
tion will be permitted to stand in
the way of the fullest possible effort
now, these British sources declared.
This is partly the result of ths
loss of Allied resources because Of
the widening Nazi hold on France.
From rs to 80 per cent of Frances
steel producing plants now are in
German hands, these sources said.
and the same is true of many fac.
tories producing war material.
But, they added, fortunately for
the Allies, most of the French fac
tories producing ammunition are in
the south.
The government is not so much
concerned momentarily about the
United States production capacity
as about the material there already
manufactured, they said.
For instance, they explained. the
British Expeditionary Forces loss OF
a thousand field guns in the with
drawal from the Flanders trap has
left few in this country for the
enormous army which must be put
into the field.
The situation with regard to rifles
is not so acute. they said, but they
warned that the demands of the
local defense volunteers-the home
guard against possible German in
vasion-have taken a large part Of
the supply.
While she will take all that Amer
lea can send. and urged the cutting
of red tape. these sources said Brit
aims own stepped-up production
has vastly expanded her purchase
of machine tools from the United
States and that she would continue
to take such tools up to the United
States capacity to send them.
Aim Biggest Army Possible.
The policy is to put into the field
at once the biggest army possible
briefly: A maximum of soldiers in 4
minimum of time-they said, but
the Allies must look across the
Atlantic for large part of the
equipment.
They expressed belief that 1t was
the United States duty to herself to
do the best she can in the hope
her aid will turn the balance for
democracy.
They emphasized that the need
is now, next week and the week
after-not next year-although they
declared that those charged with
supplying Britain's army were not
forgetting to look further ahead
also
Primarily what Britain wants
from the United States, these
sources said, are the weapons that
country manufactured at the close
Of the last war to. replace those she
obtained from the Allies.
Urgent Need for Weapons:
For instance, they mentioned
American 75s and American-made
British Enfield rifles as very impor-
tant and said some of the needed
weapons were being turned up in
patches of hundreds. ....
Urgent need was mentioned also
for certain explosives and parts for
the manufacture Of tanks, tractors,
machines and shells.
While she is planning to 60 all
the way in respect to men, money
and supplies, Britain still is keeping
in sight that her capacity may be
reduced by bombing as the war goes
on, these sources continued. That.
they said, will mean need for nm
ished war products as well as tor
raw materials 90 take the place of
losses of ore and other material.
Recent arrivals of supplies from
the United States have been small
because the former lone.ranae var