Evening star., 1941-04-21
u. 5, Canada
Agree 10 Pool
Defense Effort
President Indorses
Britoin's Appeal for
Red Cross Doctors
By JOHN C. HENRY.

By JOHN c. HENRY.
Two important new steps in this
Nations program of defense and
all-out aid to the embattled British
Empire were on the record today as
President Roosevelt returned to the
Capital from a crowded and momen-
touS week end at his Hyde Park
IN. " home.
Announced almost simultaneously
less than two hours before the Chief
Executives special train left the
little Hudson riverside station, these
latest American efforts on behalf of
Britain were:
l. An agreement for the pooling
of defense production resources of
Canada and the United States, by
which the latter will purchase up to
$500 900, 900 of defense articles from
the dominion in the next IL months
and will include Canada under the
lease-lend formula for the procure
ment of defense material.
2. A presidential appeal for an
"expeditionary force" of 1000 young
American doctors to volunteer for
emergency service under the British
Red Cross.
Soon after his return to the
White House Mr.. Roosevelt dis
cussed the legislative situation with
the big four" congressional lead
ers-Vice President Wallace, Sem
ate Majority Leader Barkley, House
Speaker Rayburn and House Ma
jority Leader Mccormack.
They said afterward that gen
eral discussion of the legislative sit
uation" had taken place.
Mr.. Rayburn said there had been
some discussion of the projected So
500 900, 900 tax program, but Senator
Barkley said there was no talk of
what would be taxed.
No Legislation Requested.
The participants said they under
stood no legislation would be re-
quired to carry out the agreement
between the United States and Can
ada for collaboration in production
of war supplies.
The Democratic leaders said there
had been no mention of the convoy
issue. They added that the Presi-
dent had been told that the House
Merchant Marine Committee would
approve shortly measure to permit
the requisitioning of foreign ships
tied up in American ports.
There were qualities of the dra-
matte about both the Presidents de-
cisions announced yesterday.
Hopkins and Morgenthau Present.
Accompanied by Harry L. Hopkins,
his principal advisor on the defense
and aid programs, Mr.. Roosevelt
went to his Hyde Park home Friday
for what White House aides indi-
Gated would be a week end Of more
rest than business. On Saturday,
however, it was announced that
Canada's Prime Minister w. L..
Mackenzie King would be Sunday
visitor, for the purpose of consul
tation on mutual wartime problems
of the neighboring North American
nations
Az the same time. 1t was learned
that a decision was imminent on the
idea of reinforcing the hard
pressed civilian and military medical
forces of the United Kingdom.
With the Canadian-American
conversations to be primarily eco
nomic in character, Secretary of the
Treasury Morgenthau also was sum-
to participate. Shortly after
2:30 pm. yesterday, Mr.. Mackenzie
King arrived and from then until
$50 pm. he remained in constant
consultation with Mr. Roosevelt, part
of the time with Mr.. Hopkins and
Mr.. Morgenthau also present.
Joint Statement Given Out.
Although the press had been in
formed unofficially early in the day
that no announcement might be ex-
pected after the conference, they
were advised shortly after 8 pm.
that a joint statement from Mr..
and Mr.. Mackenzie King
would be released by the latter as he
boarded his northbound special train
at nearby Poughkeepsie station at
10 pm.
1t was with evident satisfaction
at the days developments that the
stocky. little gray-haired Dominion
official greeted the correspondents
in the station waiting room, smil-
ingly handed out the typewriter
statements, and then hustled off to
his train.
Although broadly worded for the
most part, and specifying that "tech-
nical and financial details" are yet
to be worked out, the declaration
makes clear an intention of ever
increasing collaboration and inte-
grafton between the economic sys-
TENS of the two nations-a union
which may be of ultimate political
as we'll as industrial significance.
In sense, too. it was a pro-
nouncement in logical sequense to
the statement issued by these same
good neighbors" at Ogdensburg, N.
Y, last summer when mutual de-
fense considerations were defined
and a joint defense board created.
Asserting that the subject of pro-
duction for hemisphere defense and
aid to nations fighting the totali-
tartan powers was only one of sew
eral under discussion yesterday, the
official announcement made last
night follows:
Among other important matters,
the President and the Prime Min
lister discussed measures by which
the most prompt and effective utili-
zation might be made of the pro-
ductive facilities of North America
for the purposes both of local and
hemisphere defense and of the as
slstance which, in addition to their
own programs, both Canada and
tho TTr1ffnI