Evening star., 1941-08-27
U. 5. Again Serves
Notice 10 Japan on
Far East Aggression
MiIitory Mission Leoves
For Chino in z Weeks;
Appeusement Denied

For China in z Weeks;
Appeusement Denied
BACKGROUND
As means OF making itself
arsenal OF democracy" United
States no10 is supplying material
aid to British Empire and to
China under lease-lend program.
By provisions OF this program,
beneficiary nations are not re-
CURED to pay for supplies at this
time, although it is intended that
some compensation, 1Ohether in
kind or in cash, should be made
iDhen tDorld is once more at
peace.
Preparing to send a military mis-
sion to Chungking for purposes OF
implementing lease-lend aid to
China. the United States served no
tice anew on Japan today that there
will be no tempering of this Gov
ernments determination to main
tain a resistant front to Axis ag-
gresSion in the Far East.
The announcement that the mis-
sion would depart in two weeks also
was apparently calculated to re-
assure the government of Chang
Kai-shek that the leaSe-lend pro-
gram would continue unchanged in
its effort to supply ill-armed China
with the sinews of modern war.
When Prime Minister Churchill,
that the United States was nego-
tiating with Japan in hopes of "a
fair and amicable settlement" IN the
Orient, uneasy fears were voiced in
Chungking that some sort of an
appeasement deal might be under
discussion.
Appeasement Denied.
Secretary Hull acted promptly to
spike such reports, explaining to
his press conference Monday that
existing conversations with Japan
were of an informal character. Any
Far Eastern settlement, he said,
would have to be based on the
fundamental principles long assert
ed by the United States-non-
recognition of aggression and respect
for international law.
President Roosevelt further hit the
appeasement reports yesterday when
he disclosed that he was about to
send the military mission to the bat
tered Chinese capital at Chungking
to study the Chinese needs, to
facilitate the delivery of lease-lend
supplies, and to make appropriate
suggestions for making lease-lend
assistance to China as effective as
possible in the interest of the United
States, of China, and of the world
effort in resistance to movements
Of conquest by force"
Brig. Gen. John Magruder, who
has served twice in his career as
military attache in China, was
named head of the mission, but the
remainder Of its personnel was not
Immediately made known.
Assails Distortions.
In discussing the function of the
mission at his press conference
yesterday, the President said it
would parallel similar group to be
sent to Soviet Russia. He did not
say when that mission would be
named.
In the course OF his conference
the President also took occasion to
charge that an organized campaign
to spread rumors, distortions, and
falsehoods Is being carried on as q
means Of sabotaging the program Of
aid TO opponents Of Hiterlism.
The question was raised when the
President was asked for comment
on reports of the misuse of lease
lend funds intended to help finance
war aid to England and China. One
report mentioned was that British
mission here had run up huge bill
at a Washington restaurant.
In a stern mood, Mr.. Roosevelt
said it was absurd to make general
allegation because they were not
true. It was only fair, he continued,
for the press to say that such stories
were rumors, distortions, or plain
dirty lies.
Mr.. Roosevelt added that he did
not want to be in the position Of
denying such reports, for the en-
phasis should be placed elsewhere.
It should be laid, he said, on the
campaign TO spread vicious rumors,
distortions and falsehoods.
Nox aTapd CfanI
He was then asked for comment
on a story that some supplies sent
to England under the lease-lend act
had been sold elsewhere in competi-
tion with American products.
This report, Mr.. Roosevelt re-
piled, originated in the fact that
long before the lease-lend program
began, the British had contracts for
the delivery Of steel to Argentina.
The contracts were fulfilled, he said,
and the steel delivered. 1t was not,
he added, American steel, although
at the same time, the British were
obtaining steel here.
But, he added, no one in his wild
est dream would say that the steel
delivered to Argentina was lease
lend stuff. That sort of thing was a
half truth, Mr.. Roosevelt continued,
and just as bad as whole lie.
He Jumped in the same category
reports mentioned at the conference
that Great Britain was diverting
tankers obtained from this country
10 commercial use.
Accounting to Be Made.
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia announced yesterday that a
"full account of expenditures under