Evening star., 1942-02-17
Credit
OF Another Billion
Sought for Russia
President Calls Ranking
Officers to White House
For Strategy Conference

A lease lend credit of approx
mately 81 900, 900 900 is being ne
gotiated for Russia, it was
learned here today from official
sources, as officials turned their
attention to American war STRAIT
egy in the light Of spectacular
Axis successes.
The news that Russia was to re-
ceive a second billion dollar allot-
ment-the initial credit for this
amount, granted last fall, having
been nearly all allocated-came on
the heels of indications that changes
in strategy are imminent.
President Roosevelt summoned to
the White House for an extensive
staff conference the four ranking
officers of the armed services: Gen.
George c. Marshall, chief of staff !:
1t. Gen. Henry H. Arnold. chief of
the Army Air Forces: Admiral
Ernest j. King, commander Of the
United States Fleet, and Admiral
Harold r, Stark, chief Of naval op-
erations.
Aid to China Asked.
Members of Congress called for
increased aid to China as the quick
est way to stem the Japanese and
pledged that American arms would
eventually dominate every battle
front.
The Russian lease-lend credit, it
was explained, was being discussed
in order to make plans for filling
the future needs of the Soviet.
Although some of the materials
promised under the first 81 900 900,
600 credit have been delivered to the
Russians, the exact status of these
supplies is a military secret.
However, it was learned officially
that the entrance of the United
States into the war had created
some shipping difficulties.
The new credit is still in the ne
gotiation stage, and the exact
amount and details have not been
settled.
May Be Monetary Loan.
It may take the form Of a none
tary loan of lease-lend money, q
straight arrangement to lease-lend
war materials to be repaid in kind
or a credit to be repaid in any re-
sources the Russians may find avail
able after the war.
Congress received a report from
Secretary of Agriculture Wickard
meanwhile that $4,000, 900 from
lease-lend funds had been set aside
for purchase of sugar in the Carib-
bean area for Russia and the United
Kingdom.
Fish from Iceland also are being
purchased for transfer to the United
Kingdom, Secretary Wickard seid
Senator Austin of Vermont, the
assistant Republican leader, asked
that every effort be made to get
supplies and equipment to General
issimo Chang Kai-shek's armies as
the most effective immediate step
THE Chinese already have shown
their mettle and we must get aic
through to them so they can help
us regain lost ground" he told re-
porters.
Singapore Blame Shared.
Representative Mas, Republican
of Minnesota, colonel in the Marine
Corps Aviation Reserve and ranking
minority member of the House
Naval Affairs Committee, issued q
statement declaring that the United
States shared responsibility for the
loss of Singapore because the fleet
temporarily crippled by the Pear
Harbor attack, could not help the
defenders in time.
President RooSevelt's only COM
ment on the situation was in the
same tone. He pledged to New
Zealand Minister Walter Nash that
the United States would not faltel
until the war in the Pacific was won
The new Minister called at the
White House to present his creden-
tials and took occasion to express
New Zealand's gratitude 'for the
splendid assistance and cooperation
which has been and is being giver
in the fight for the freedom of the
democracies."
In reply the President reafiirmet
the friendly feeling Of the Ameri.
cans for the people of New Zealand
and the whole British common
wealth, and continued:
Our countries have pledged them
selves, along with all other United
Nations, to employ our full resources
in the defeat of Axis aggressors
We shall not falter until the tasl
Is complete and our freedom made
secure"