The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
LAST WORD OF
 LORD LOTHIAN
CcOntinued from Page I,

becomes more apparent. We ought to be free to take any action as the circumstances dictate in the future, and our nationals ought to be free to engage in commerce with all bel- ligerents. That is true neutrality"
 He emphasized that he spoke as an individual senator, not as par ty leader, that he did not seek to outline his party's policy in the new congress.
 Austin indirectly referred to one of the greatest dangers confronting Great Britain-the German war with submarines, airplanes, and surface raiders on her commerce in an at- tempt to starve her into surrender. There have been suggestions from American and British sources that United States ships resume trading with Britain, also that the United States navy convoy American ships at least part way to Britain.
 Lothian Speech Read Lord Lothian, in the speech read for him last night by Neville Butler, counselor of the British embassy, because he was i'll, referred to this threat more directly. The Royal navy, he said, holding its own with the tremendous tasks which rest up- on it, no one of which 1t has shirk- ed or evaded, is strung out terribly thin. '"The Royal Navy, he contin- ued, by controlling the Atlantic, paid the United States the service of freeing its fleet to keep the Pa cific peaceful.
 He continued:
 "We have both, therefore, vital interest in decisively defeating the now rapidly maturing naval attack on the communications of the Brit ish Isles. It is the best way of pre- venting the spread of war. And 1t is an essential step to that victory which will eventually follow the failure of Hitler to destroy Great Britain, both by the air and by the sea, and the uninterrupted flow of American munitions to the British IsleS."
 He also said: With your help in aeroplanes, munitions, in ships and on the sea, and in the field of fi- nance now being discussed between your treasury and ours, we are sure of victory-sure that the gangster menace to human freedom, the greatest the world has ever seen will go down to the oblivion it de- serves"
 Summing up Britain's present status in the war and her need of American aid, Lord Lothian con- cluded:
 Depends On U. s.
 "The issue now depends largely on what you decide to do. Nobody can share that responsibility with you. It is the great strength of democra- cy that it brings responsibility down squarely to every citizen and every nation. And before the judgment seat of God each must answer for his own. actions"
 The section of the neutrality law Austin suggested changing forbids American vessels to enter war zones as defined by the president, or American citizens to travel on bel- ligerent ships. The only part of the European coast American ships can now touch is that of Portugal. Only one American ship has been sunk in the present war-it struck mine off Australia.
 One of the major issues which preceded this country's entrance in- to the World War was the right of neutral nations on the high seas. President Woodrow Wilson insisted that the right of neutral shipping should not be infringed upon by bel- hgerents.
 Austin said that the United States should respond to reason and act promptly at the right time in the way of credits, ships and planes" for the British.
 Tt would be folly," he continued, ito withhold credit at the proper time when such credit could do the most good to defeat Hitler and pre- vent world revolution from coming to us in the form of war"
 Awaits Roosevelt
 4Ilc QuCotIO1l O1 4AAAdl1C4d4 nlO AO4 Britain awaits President RooSeveit's return from a Caribbean cruise next week. The British balance sheet" 1" which as submitted to Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr., by Sir Frederick Phillips, Un- dersecretary of the British Treasury, is being studied by high administra- tion officials and cabinet members who met to discuss it in Morgen- thaus office Monday. It was as- stunned that the various departments concerned would have reports ready for. MT. Roosevelt when he returns.
 Secretary of Commerce Jesse H Jones, who also is Federal Loan Ad- ministrator, said at press confer ence yesterday that British credit is "a matter for the administration to determine, and the administra- tion is not present" Asked what would happen when the admin stration that is absent returns" !" Jones replied: Something usually happens. doesn't it?"