Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-27
Britain Expects j. 5.
10 Become Second
Arsenal for War
England Far From Being
Fully Armed, Commons
Told by Greenwood
b. the Associated Press.

"clean breast" of her deficiencies to
the United States and expects North
America soon to become "a second
arsenal" sufficient to insure British
victory.
This came from Minister without
Portfolio Arthur Greenwood in
vigorous House Of Commons debate
on a Laborite assertion that the
Churchill government had failed ito
face the facts that the dice of war
are heavily loaded against U.s."
Almost at the same time Ernest
Bevin, Minister of Labor, announced
to Commons that between now
and next June there will be another
enormous Gallup" of Britain's man.
hood for the fighting service.
Far From Fully Armed.
Mr.. Greenwood echoed Prime
Minister Churchill's recent state
ment that Britain is far from being
fully armed. However, he went on
to say that her military potential is
growing and eventually would
triumph.
Arthur B. Purvis, chairman OF
the British Purchasing Commission
in the United States, gave point to
Mr.. Greenwood's reference to the
United States rs "a second arsenal,
upon his return by clipper plane
He indicated a heavy increase In
American aid in 1941.
Next year, If were sitting in
Germany, I would be very worried
at what is going to flow out OF
the United States" Mr.. Purvis de-
clared.
AS for British manpower. all men
in the United Kingdom between ls
and IS already have been called
to register. The next Gallup. re-
ferred to by Bevin, probably will
take men up to 40.
Leslie Hore- Belisha, former War
Secretary, joined the Laborite criti-
cism OF the governments policy.
Hore -Belisha Critical.
Replying to Mr.. Greenwood, Mr..
Hore-Belisha, a Conservative, de-
clared that the Minister had "of-
fered lis no remedy" and declared
that unemployment at the most
critical moment of our whole his
tory appears to be increasing.
Shipbuilding is behind schedule,
Mr.. Hore-Belisha charged, and the
shipping minister has Offered us no
hope except for accession Of tonnage
from the United States which, he
said, "is not a mercantile shipbuild-
ing nation and has many preoccupa-
lions with its own naval difficulties
both in the Atlantic and the Pacific. "
Mr.. Hore-Belisha declared that
"the real remedy" would be ito knock
Italy out Of the war. The Greeks
have opened the way. This is
our great opportunity"
Demanding to know why a part q
the Italian fleet was permitted to
flee laramie for safer refuge" after
Britain's Arrnistice Day air attack,
the former War Secretary asked:
Are we to fight war extensively
against Italy or not?"
Transport Chief Dissatisfied.
Transport Minister Col. Moore
Brabazon, touching on another Of
the wars soresposts, said he was
very dissatisfied" with scanty food
arrangements on trains.
Mr.. Greenwood replied to vigorous
Labor charges Of government over
optimism, timidity and failure to
mobilize the unemployed for a part
in war production.
AT the risk of being accused Of
wishful thinking and of again being
charged with belittling Hitler's re-
sources, I still assert, that our in
creasing production, in both quality
and weight, will finally crush the
might of the dictators."
He acknowledged that the increase
in the output of war equipment 'is
not enough" but added that the
flow Of material from the United
States lis increasing, even If 1t is
tardy."
Mr.. Greenwood continued:
I'VE are now cooperating with
the United States in order that our
joint needs shall be met with the
least possible delay and in order to
insure that we shall get that high
priority that we undoubtedly need.
made Clean Breast"
II have made a clean breast of
our difficulties to them in order
that they could profit by our ex-
perience and that, believe, they
are doing.
Il think that before very long, if
the cordial relations between this
country and the United States con-
tinue-and I imagine they will be-
come increasingly cordial-North
America will be second arsenal
from which we can obtain increas-
ing supplies to supplement and make
good any of our deficiencies"
Mr.. Greenwood said, II do not
wish to minimize our difficulties,
but I do not think the picture is
altogether gloomy, although the sit
uation is not one which we relish.
1T is true as the Prime Minister
said recently that we are far from
being fully armed and so long as
that remains the case there will be
increasing calls for further effort"
Losses Like April, 1917.
The Minister went on to say that
while shipping losses are much like
April, 1917 the position is not
so bad as it might have been but
for the actual increase in merchant
tonnage built here
ut is heavy responsibility that
rests on the Admiralty to see that
we get some reasonable measure of
security four our shipping, for If we
do not our plight is going to be-
come very serious.
1.-THE loss of war material in
transit is not sufficient to cause
alarm let us admit that re-
cent enemy air attacks have re-
tarded our expanding program, but
beyond that do not go.
with a close knowledge of the