The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1943-02-04
THROUGH
H AzEL
{ Y { 5
~ Hazel BRANNoN

NOW tnat the CaSablanca confer
ence is over and the world has been
advised Of it's decisions to certain
extent and Mr.. Roosevelt is back in
the White House safe we can all
breathe sigh of relief +. and give
voice to hope that it won't happen
again.
The effects of the meetings that
evolved the Atlantic charter and the
unconditional surrender" policy are
Notwithstanding and breath-taking, il
Is true. They are enough to make
the ALLIED nations gloat that such
meetings can be safely held under
h very nose of the Axis
They re IN p r n t
enough to give heart to the peoples
of the occupied countries on the
continent. Mr. Churchill and Mr..
Roosevelt, both always colorful
characters, may be said to have out
done themselves this time,
Mr.. Roosevelt, who proudly flaunts
tradition and now has a long line Of
first in tradition-breaking, does not
have the right to tempt fate as he
did at Casablanca conference. Has
he thought about what would hap
pen should he be torpedoed in a
ship, or shot down in bomber, or
in any way be put out of the way?
While we may admire the courage
that makes Mr.. Roosevelt do such
things we cannot condone his judy
ment. His life is too important to
take such chances. The manpower
needed to protect him safely at such
meetings might easily be used else
where. The White House could be
used for needed future meetings.
It would be q sorry day for the
United States and the United Ma
tions should Vice-President Henry
Wallace have to take Mr.. Roose-
yelt's place.
Someone should speak to Mr..
Roosevelt about taking such trips !.
maybe Congress. He should not
teIupI dtc IiiIlCc.
If the official figures given by
Edward r. Stettinius, Jr., Lend
Lease administrator, last week to
Congress are correct, it is apparent
that the United States has not given
our ,Alliei as much help as we
thought.
The total amount Of lend-lease aid
extended by the us, according to
Stettinius' figures for the period OF
March, 1941, through December 81,
1912, was slightly in excess of eight
and one-quarter million dollars, 49,
252,733. OF this amount Great
Britain and her territories received
by far the greatest part, total of
$6,353,143. Of this total help to
Britain $2,393,193 was extended to
Australia, New Zealand, India, Egypt
and other British territories. 3d.
959,95C went to the United King
dom itself.
The report shows that we have ex-
tended to Russia SO far only ST.
1922 and to China only $156,738.
Others" were listed as getting $780,
622.
The amount Of money expended
for goods by US and lend-leased to
our ALLIES is unimportant in itself.
What is important is the quantity
and quality Of weapons and mater
ials needed by them in their battles
and their safe arrival in the battle
grounds in time to aid in waging
the war when needed. Thus if l.
900 airplanes were needed by the
Russians and we delivered them
safely to them we can feel that is
more important if they cost only
100000 than a million dollars spent
for something else less vitality needed.
Both the Chinese and Russians
have received an infiniteslmal
amount of goods compared to the
British. Maybe the help extended
by us was just what was needed
by them to help turn the tide of bat
tie on the huSSldfl lIOliJ eiiis WihsSi
Maybe not. At any rate the Rus
slams and Chinese seem only too
eager to put into effect something
Mr.. Churchill told the US man!
moons ago ''give US the tools
and we will finish the job"
Certainly we are in favor OF CIV
ing Russia everything she asks FOL
and we can spare in the way Of
weapons and materials and food. W.
have faith that those weapons vii
blast Germany out of the war II
Europe, if sent in sufficient number
and that we will thus have NOR
strength left for the Pacific battle
front.
In the same manner the Chimes
have shown themselves only too anx
ious to fight if they have something
with which to fight. The creates
lob America can do right now !
one of production and delivery 0
weapons to Russia and China. II W