Evening star., 1940-12-17
Warning on Spring
Crisis Attributed
To Secretary Hull

olcoe olltdill pIoDdUly Will ldCc d
serious crisis next spring unless she
receives more war materials from the
United States than now are sched-
uled for delivery in the next few
months. Secretary of State Hull has
informed the National Defense Com
mission.
The Secretary, it was learned to-
day, has told the officials concerned
with national defense production
that in view of this situation it is
imperative to speed up production
here SO that much more fighting
equipment can be delivered to the
British in the immediate future.
From another source it was learned
that Defense Commissioners Knud-
sen and Stettinius carried word to
members of the National Association
of Manufacturers that unless in
creased American aid reached her
soon, Great Britain could not hold
out longer than 80 days in the war
against Germany Further, it was
said, this message came from the
State Department, and was delivered
at the request of Secretary Hull.
The message was delivered in
secret meeting with members of the
manufacturers association.
Nazi Drive Seen in Spring.
The Secretary had no intention
of putting any particular time limit
on British capacity to carry on. it
was explained authoritatively today,
but was convinced that Britain's
greatest need for material help from
this country would come in about 80
days when the Germans are eX-
pected to launch a major assault
on England.
With all indications pointing to
such crisis in the spring, Mr.. Hull
was said to have pointed out that
it was vital for all American as
sistance possible to reach the British
by that time since airplanes and
other arms scheduled for delivery a
year or even six months from now
might be too late.
Group Met in New York Hotel.
Fifty airplanes in February will
do more good than 500 in June Mr..
Knudsen was quoted as telling
meeting of some of the associations
Executive Board in New York
hotel room last Friday.
No specific reason for the need OF
increased aid was mentioned in the
conversation, it was related, except
that reports of damage done Great
Britain by raiding German planes
told of somewhat greater loss than
the British censorship.
Mr.. Knudsen spoke at the annual
dinner of the association. but the
speech did not cover the ground re-
ported discussed at the informal
meeting.
Secretary Hull is taking a personal
interest in the shipping situation,
checking to ascertain what ships
might be made available for trans
porting increased amounts of war
supplies to Great Britain
1t was understood that he had in
mind the sale of the vessels to the
British, who have been buying
numerous American ships in recent
months, although there is strong
sentiment among some members of
Congress for repeating the provisions
of the Neutrality Act which prevent
United States flag vessels from
carrying goods to England.
Discusses Views With Press.
At his press conference today,
Secretary Hull said that naturally
he had discussed the international
situation with his associates in the
Government and others, but was
not inclined to take up publicly
every shade of meaning that might
be attached to what had been said
in these conversations.
The secretary said he had earn
estly expressed the hope in all quar-
ters that everything possible be done
to bring about a substantial i'm
provement in defense production and
delivery.
Mr. Hull added that he had felt
it his duty to discuss this informa-
ton frankly with his associates in
the Government, but emphasized
that he had not done so in any
alarmist sense. Although with no
responsibility for the technical side
of production, the Secretary said he
felt it was his responsibility to call
the attention of those directly con-
cerned with such problems to the
facts in the international situation
pertaining to them.
The terrible urgency" for much
faster defense production, disclosed
(see BRITISH AID, Page A-50