Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-03-12
Billions for Britain

Inv dloSlOouAC UlloO SolNACAlO
Roosevelt is preparing to ask Con-
gress for a record peacetime appro-
priation of $1,000 100000 with which
| to finance American aid to Britain
and other embattled democracieS
should serve further to impress upon
the minds of totalitarian war lords
the blunt fact that the United States,
once it has determined upon a course
Of action, does not resort to half way
measures. The proposed billions
would include the $1,300,000000 of
existing military and naval equip
ment which could be transferred to
the British the Greeks and other
opponents of the aggressors under
terms Of the LeaSe-Lend Act. Thus,
blanket authority will be asked by
the President for eXpenditure-if
need be-Of as much as $5,700,0000
for additional materiel in our about
effort to help Britain and her Allies
defeat the axis powers.
That the cost of this effort will be
great has become increasingly APP
parent as the implications of the
administrations epOchal program
have been revealed in the discussions
at the Capitol. But America has
made her choice deliberately, with
full aWareneSS of the risks and the
responsibilities and the sacrifices in
volved. For America today realizes
that billions for Britain is the best
possible insurance, in this dark hour
of history, against the spread of
aggression, against the spread of war
in its grimmest form, to the Western
Hemisphere
The dictatorS are learning that,
when properly aroused, a despiSed
democracy can function unitedly and
effectively Almost before the ink
was dry on his signature at the bot
tom of historic H. R. l776, PreSi-
dent Roosevelt was issuing the first
Of a series of orders for the prompt
release to Britain and Greece-and
probably later to China-of undis-
closed quantities of Army and Navy
supplies. Because it would be of
military advantage to Hitler and his
associates to know the nature and
amount OF these supplies-and to
know when and by what routes they
will leave this Countrywide President
wisely has refrained from making
public at this time the details of the
transactions But the itemized lists
were prepared in collaboration with
Army and Navy experts and eventual
ly, Mr.. Roosevelt told reporters at
his press conference, the secrecy
will be lifted. Under the aid-Britain
law, he must submit periodic reports
to Congress on the transfers made.
The billions to be asked in new
appropriations necessarily have to
do with plans for future aid. 1t will
take time to convert dollars into
planes and tanks and artillery and
ships and into new factories for ex-
panded production of these things.
But, according to British officials, the
fateful battle of the Atlantic" al
ready has begun. Nazi submarines
and bomberS are sWarming in ever
increasing numbers around Church
ills tight little isle, intent on rup-
turing Britains life lines of trade
the very life lines on which she must
depend for delivery of American aid.
Every day every hour counts in this
desperate struggle. That is why
America gladly offers to Britain
the tangible assistance Immediately
available, presumably including
bombers (Which may be flown across
the Atlantic) and other planes, guns
and possibly such war vessels as can
be spared Britain'S most urgent
need at this moment is for destroyers
and fast torpedo boats to combat
the submarine menace. Whether we
will part with naval craft of this
type remains an official secret. Ger
tainly America must take whatever
steps are necessary to see that the
billions of dollars worth of equip
ment arrives at it's destination
before it is too late to be of value.
Sir Archibald Sinclair, British Air
Minister, told the House of Commons
yesterday that Nazi Propaganda
Minister Goebbels has assured Ibis
German dupes that American help
for Britain will arrive too late"
America, for her own sake as we'll
as Britain's, must demonstrate
the complete inaccuracy of that
prophecy.
Axie Rnnrtion