Evening star., 1942-06-15
Strict Payment
On Lease.Lend
NOT Expected
Roosevelt Informs
Congress Aid Now
Totals Five Billions
BY GARNETT D. HORNER

pect strict reimbursement for its
lease-lend contributions to the
common war; President Roose-
velt made clear today in a re-
port informing Congress that
lease-lend aid aggregated nearly
S5,OO0,0OO,OOO by May 81.
The report outlined a policy Of
sharing the wars financial burden
according to each of the Allied na-
tions' "apility to pay" avoiding the
political and economic mistakes OF
international debt experience" after
the World War.
"Lease-lend is no longer one way"
Mr.. Roosevelt emphasized in a lets
ter transmitting the report to Con-
gress. He pointed out that those
who have been receiving American
assistance are supplying us on the
same basis with many things we
need now" including British anti
aircraft guns for defense of Ameri-
can bases.
These things, invaluable as they
have proven" he added, "are not
the major benefit we will receive
for our lease-lend aid. That bene-
fit will be the defeat of the Axis"
Distribution is Problem.
Declaring that the battle Of pros
duction is on the way to being
wen" and that the battle OF dis
tribution is in its critical phase"
his report said the United Nations
ARE moving in a co-ordinated way
toward organizing offensives backed
by their combined resources"
Our reservoir of resources is now
approaching food stage Mr.. Roose.
welt said. The next step is for our
military, industrial and shipping
experts to direct its full force
against the centers Of enemy
power.
Great Britain and the United
States have together set up expert
combined bodies to do the job, in
close cooperation with Russia,
China and the other United Ma
tions. They are equipping the
United Nations to fight this war
on a WORLDWIDE DdSE.
They are taking combined action
to carry our men and Weapons-on
anything that will float or fly-to
the places from which We can
launch our offensives."
Changing War Conditions.
The Lease-Lend Act provides that
the benefit to this country in return
for aid given under it may be re-
payment in kind or property, or any
other direct on indirect benefit
which the President deems satis-
factory"
When the act was adopted, our
policy was generally construed to
envisage large postwar repayments
in kind, if not in cash. First lease.
lend arrangements with Russia.
superseded by an agreement signed
here last week postponing determ1-
nation of final terms Of settlement,
called for cash repayments over q
long period after the war.
We are now in the war, as we
were not in March, 194l, when the
Lease-Lend Act was passed" the
Presidents report pointed out in ex-
planning that the "lease-lend prln-
ciple, as it develops, is removing the
possibility that considerations or
finance can interfere with the fun
use of material resources"
The transfers made under the
Lease-Lend Act" the report added,
ARE not commercial loans to other
nations. They are contributions of
material to a common pool with
which a common war Is being
waged."
The lea of common pool of all
United Nations resources-muni-
tions, raw materials. food, shipping
facilities, and so forth-was stressed
repeatedly throughout the report,
which reviewed in detail the func;
tions of numerous joint agencies
which are providing the unified
direction" necessary to put these
combined resources Ito the most
effective use" -
Declaring "our intention to avoid
the political and economic mis-.
takes of the World War debts, the
report outlined policy under which
mo nation will grow rich from the
war efforts of its allies"
Real Costs Not in Money.
"The real costs of the war" 1t
asserted" cannot be measured. nor
compared, nor paid for in money.
They must and are being met in
blood and toll. But the financial
costs of the war can and should be
met in a way which will serve the
needs of lasting peace and mutual
economic well-being. '''
"All the United Nations are seek
ing maximum conversion to war
production in the light of their spe-
cial resources. If each country de.
votes roughly the same fraction of
its national production to the war.
then the financial burden of war
is distributed equally among the
United Nations in accordance With
their ability to pay. no
And although the nations richest
In resources are able to make larger
contributions, the claim of war
against each is relatively the same.
ouCIl d QlSLIlDuClOIl Ol lllc 1llldus
cial costs of war means that no ma.
ton will grow rich from the war
efforts of its allies. The money costs
of the war will fall according to the
rule of equality in sacrifice, as tn
effort" 10
Mr.. Roosevelt said lease-lend aid
now is being made available at a
monthly rate equivalent to s8,000,-
100000 a year, with a total of ST.
927 1000 900 for the quarter ended
May 81, bringing the aggregate for
Is months operation under the
Lease-Land Act to $4,997 ,000, 900.
This represents u per cent of our
entire war program.
S2,601 ,000,000 Transferred.
A breakdown of these figures
showed articles actually transferred
under the program so far were
valued at $2,eO1 900 900, with ST.
10000 900 of this amount being ac-
(See LEAsE-LEND. Page A-4J"