Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-05-24
Roosevelt Prepares
Report on Progress
OF Lease-Lend Plan
Figures to Be Ready
For Submission Next
Month to Congress


A progress report on the lease
lend program, the $1,000, 100000 eff
fort by this Nation to support the
fighting forces and spirit of the
British Empire, is being prepared
by President Roosevelt for submits
sion to Congress.
At a press conference late yes
terday the Chief Executive said the
report would be ready for the legis-
lators by June 10, but that because
Of the problem Of gathering statistics
the included figures might not cover
beyond May 20. Totals will be given
Tor money and materials but detailed
information which might be of
value to unfriendly powers will be
withheld.
During discussion of the pending
report and questioning about other
phases Of the international situa-
ton, Mr.. Roosevelt sidestepped any
positive comment on recent specu-
lation about repeal of the Neutral
ity Act.
Approval Of such a step has been
indicated during the past week by
Secretary of War Stimson and Sec
Rotary of Navy Knox.
Knox Asks Greater Effort.
In a new appeal yesterday for
stronger measures to bring about
defeat of Germany, Secretary Knox
told the Society of Naval Architects
and Marine Engineers in convention
here that: This is fight for con-
troll of the high seas, and God help
us If we DON'T bear our share in
that fight for the control Of the
sea and against human slavery"
Following up his recent denuncia-
ton of the Neutrality Act as a ter
rife blunder, Secretary Knox warned
that If the Nation is to keep its
self respect it must "recapture a
principle for which We fought twice.
the principle of the freedom of the
seas"
Near the Naval Secretary as he
spoke at the meeting in the May
flower Hotel sat Lord Halifax, the
British Ambassador. Halifax did
not make an address, but received
rising ovation as he was escorted
into the banquet hall by Rear Ad-
miral Emory S. Land. chairman Of
the Maritime Commission and presi-
don't pf the Sopinry
Situation Desperate.
Admiral Land told the crowd:
No matter what figures are given
out, no matter how they are in
terpreted or misinterpreted, our
shipping situation is serious to des-
peration.
You gentlemen have the burden
in your hands and on your shoulders
to ameliorate this situation Of ships.
ships and more ships"
The Navy chief said, In expanding
his comments on the high impor-
lance of sea power, that he included
air power as part of ocean domina-
ton. The time would never come.
he said, when any nation could
successfully achieve world domina-
ton without a combination of those
powers, and at the base, sea power
Must Make Sacrifices.
On the other hand, he said, the
world could not achieve peace until
America was prepared to put behind
our devotion to peace the power that
we can control on the seas and in
the air"
1T is not going to be easy 10 de-
feat this thing that is abroad in the
world. The time is coming when We
will not lead the kind of life we are
leading now. We have not begun,
yet TO sacrifice.
I'VE are going to win through only,
by making sacrifices here to match
the sacrifices of the British people
1T is not going to be a short
struggle 1t is going to take a long
time and cost an awful price, but it
is worth the price"