Evening star., 1940-12-08
American Planes for Greeks
Indicated as Roosevelt Sends
Kinq Promise of Prompt Aid
HeIIenes' Legation
Says Wide Choice
OF Arms Is Given
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Embattled Greece has been
promised immediate American as
siStanCe in an exchange of messages
between President Roosevelt and
King George II. and high quarters
indicated last night that the aid
would include warplanes.
Mr.. Roosevelt's message. made
public by the State Department,
did not specify the form in which
help would be given. simply pledglng
King George that steps are being
taken" to provide assistance in line
with "the settled policy OF the United
States to extend aid to those gov
ernments and peoples who defend
themselves against aggression
From the Greek Legation and
high American sources, however,
came indications that warplanes,
urgently needed because of the
overwhelming Italian odds in the air,
were first on the list.
Cimon Diamantopoulos, the Greek
Minister. requested assistance in Sc
curing warplanes and other war
weapons and materials three weeks
ago in discussions with Sumner
Welles, Undersecretary of State.
Planes Major Items.
After Mr.. Roosevelt's message was
made public. an official at the Greek
Legation said Greece had been prom
ised ANY kind of help it wants
Warplanes were the major item, he
added, but emphasized that his
country had been given wide latl-
tude in selecting whatever the
United States had available in the
category of war weapons or supplies.
The United States presumably is
In a position to provide Greece with
some warplanes and limited
among of surplus Army weapons
without seriously interfering with
American defense requirements and
the flow of war weapons of all kinds
to Great Britain.
American military officials, how
ever, took the view that the primary
responsibility of deciding whether
planes and guns could be spared
rested with Greece's ally, Great
Britain.
Under its policy of assisting the
British by all means short OF war,
the United States has already given
the British Army the pick OF sur
plus rifles and other weapons pro-
vided the British Navy with 30
Tdestroyers, and granted Britain 80
so shares Of warplanes production.
Army Has Surplus Rifles.
The Army is understood still to
possess approximately 1900 900 Lee
Enfield rifles and nearly the same
number of Springfield rifles, which
are gradually being replaced by
semi-automatic Garands. Greece
might be able to utilize some of the
surplus" rifles.
Other war weapons might include
field guns. mortars and machine
guns of type adapted to the noun
tain warfare the Greeks have waged
against the Fascist legions which at
tempted to invade the Greclan PEN
insula, but there was no official hint
of lust what the Army general staff
considers surplus" among those
weapons.
The final decision as to the num-
Der of planes which may be made
available to Greece. either from
the American or British share OF
current production-or percentage
from each-is expected to come
from the priorities authority. Of
f1cials of this board would give no
hint last night as to what, If any,
decision had been reached.
Equipment Needed at Once.
Greek officials here have empha-
sized that the Greek Army needs
help-in the way of planes, guns
and other equipment-immediately
to carry on the bitter fight now rag
ing. and are interested in deliveries
now and not orders for future de-
livery.
At the Capitol, there were gen.
eral expressions of approval of Mr..
Roosevelt's message.
Greece has been wantonly and
vickedly attacked Senator King,
Democrat, of Utah, said, and any
aid we can give her will help
democracy
The Presidents promise of aid
was contained IL message IN
which he acknowledged the appre-
citation of King George for help
already received from the American
Red Cross.
Message From King.
The message from King George
said:
"In this hour in which my coun-
try is engaged in hard and unequal
struggle, forced upon it by an en-
emy whose actions are motivated by
cruelty and violence, I am deeply
moved by the warm sympathy and
the keen interest manifested by the
great Nation whose destinies you
guide.
The noble American people have
often in the past rendered assistance
to my country in all critical mo-
mentS of its history, and the recent
organization of the Greek War Re-
lief Association is further proof that
(see GREEK AID, Page A-5D
Italy Planned Invasion