Evening star., 1941-08-15
Beaverbrook Confers
On Ways Of Speeding
Arms Deliveries
Minister Stresses Need
For Tanks, Bombers
And Food Supplies
BY GARNETT d. HORNER.

Great BrltalnS dynamic Minister
of Supply, Lord Beaverbrook, who
describes himself as the greatest
buyer on the cuff you've ever seen,"
sought in conference with American
officials here today to work out
methods of speeding delivery of war
materials to England and Russia.
I'VE have had hundreds of mil
lions of dollars worth of benefit un-
der the lease-lend program" he said
in a rapid-fire press conference at
the British Embassy late yesterday,
but we need more" He emphasized
the need for tanks, bombing planes
and food.
He indicated in one cryptic remark
that he believed land invasion of
the European continent would be
necessary to achieve the final de-
struction of Nazi tyranny" which
| President Roosevelt and Prime Min
lister Churchill set out as an essen
tial prelude to establishment of the
eight-point peace program they an
nounced yesterday.
Asked if aerial warfare would be
enough to defeat Hitler, Lord
Beaverbrook replied that it was the
greatest feature of modern war,
paused moment, then said, but it
didn't beat u.s."
Silent on L. S. Entry.
He declined to discuss the posi-
bility of American entry into the
war, turning aside questions on this
point by saying he was Minister
of Supply seeking more supplies. I
will neither acknowledge nor deny
it," he said when asked again if he
would foreclose the necessity of ac-
tive American participation, adding
that it was question for this coun-
try to decide.
Lord Beaverbrook flew here yes
terday directly from the historic
meeting at sea between Mr.. Roose-
welt, Mr.. Churchill and their high
ranking military, naval and diplo-
matte aides. but declined to discuss
the conference or even admit di-
rectly that he attended it despite
previous White House announcement
that he had been present.
He told questioners he flew here
from London, stopping at New
foundland. Asked if there was any
other stop, he said "of course We had
to stop for a drink"
Throughout the brief press con-
ference, the man who was born in
Canada 81 years ago as William
Maxwell Aitken, became England's
most famous newspaper publisher
and was elevated to the peerage in
1916, answered questions-or de-
clined to answer with a simple Il
can't talk about that'-in swift,
| slangy Americanese. His remarks
were peppered with laughs. as when
he spoke of overcoming production
"bottlenecks"-"a word that used to
be associated with pleasure in my
mind, but now with pain"
Will See Knudsen.
Lord Beaverbrook's mission here
/ is to follow through with detailed
discussions with proper officials here
on the phases of the Roosevelt
Churchill conferences pertaining to
supplies for those countries actively
engaged in resisting aggression"
He said he was looking forward to
talking with William S. Knudsen,
director of the Office of Production
Management, and others, but de-
clined to name all those he expected
/ to see.
| He declared that Russia was put
ting up splendid fight" against
Germany, already had received gen.
erous supply assistance from Britain
and certainly would get a share of
what the British obtain in the
| future.
You have been very generous, ="
Lord Beaverbrook said in discussing
lease-lend aid, but we need still
more from you. Remember that we
are engaged in a terrific conflict with
an enemy that is confident, an
enemy that is well organized. an
enemy who has been preparing for
years to fight.
IF you expect us to do as well,
send us as much as you can as
swiftly as possible under lease