Evening star., 1941-09-07


The liberal and influential New
Statesman and Nation of London last
week described as Shocking" Mr..
Roosevelt's own disclosure that un-
til next January American output
of high-range Comm. anti-aircraft
guns will be only 81 month, that
the July production of 37-mm. anti
tank guns was Y, and that July de-
liveries of military airplanes totaled
,46O. of which half were trainers.
/ In its most recent issue, the SUM-
day Times-which is not connected
with the daily London Times-ad-
dressed its editorial leader to the
American people, and reclared that
I'VE are frankly disappointed"
Bulk In Old British Orders.
This article will seek to examine
whether Britain has reason to be
disappointed over Americas per-
formance to date in the chosen role
of arsenal for the democracieS." p"
Because of censorship exerted not
only by American agencies but the
British Purchasing Commission,
precise evidence in most fields is
inaccessible. But the following con-
clusions may be accepted as broadly
accurate:
Until next spring. the bulk Of sup
plies sent from this country to
England will continue to represent
orders placed by the British before
the lease-lend act, and paid for
with British money.
Lease-lend disbursements by the
Treasury between March 81 and the
present total $40 0096. .781, or per
cent of the $1,000, 100000 appropria-
ton.
During the first six months OF
lease-lend operations. the Surplus
Marketing Corp. of the Agriculture
Department delivered into British
hands, on this side of the ocean,
not more than $3.50, ,00o, 900 worth of
foodstuffs
No Ugly Ducklings" Launched.
Out of DO ugly duckling" cargo
vessels earmarked for Britain under
the Maritime Commissions emerg-
ency program, not one has been
launched. The Maritime Commits
sion is cooperating in the con-
struction of go 10O00-ton merchant
ships on British account. paid for
with British money. Two have been
launched.
Though complete on paper. the
Presidents 2,000,0 ,000-ton pool Of
shipping to replace war losses in-
cludes $1,000 tons Of French YES
sells that have not been seized and
172.500 tons of sabotaged Italian
and German ships which cannot be
repaired before January.
During 1910, merchant ships and
tankers to the number of 43 were
built in the United States. The
program for l941 is 134 such ves-
sells. The latter figure represents
one months sinkings by Nazi sub
marines and dive bombers.
Only Part of Picture.
With British wartime expenditures
at $56,O00.000 a day, combined dis
bursements of the Treasury and
Surplus Marketing Corp. since
March ~ would sustain the United
Kingdoms economy six and one
fourth days.
Estimating Britain's food bill at
50, SOC, 100000 annually, the Surplus
Marketing Corps contribution dur
ing six months, If it arrived safely
in England, would feed the popula-
ton of the United Kingdom about
IS days. 1t should be remarked that
American food cargoes consist
| mostly Of highly concentrated prod
ucts, such as cheese, eggs and con-
| densed foodstuffs of many kinds.
Though literally true, as of today
the foregoing assertions admit only
| a glimpse of the lease-lend situa-
ton, which has Intentionally been
made so involved that scarcely a
statement can be offered without
explanations and reservations. An
unknown quantity in the equation
rises from provision of the bill en-
abling the President to transfer
existing stocks of Army and Navy
authorized under previous appro-
priations, to total Of 81 300, ,000, 900
President Fixes Values.
| A further catch is that the rresi-
dent, through the heads of the Army
and Navy. u empowered to a. tbs