Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-11
Roosevelt MESSAGE
lauds Lease.Lend Aid
To War Food Diners
litvinoff, Lord HoIifux
Guests Of Mr.. Stettinius
At Anniversary Fete

preSldent Roosevelt. IN message
read today by Vice President Wal
lace at luncheon concentrating
the second anniversary of the
Lease-Lend Act. said lease lend
and reciprocal aid will contribute
increasingly to the inevitable defeat
OF the Axis"
Maxim Litvinoff, the Soviet Am
baSsador; Lord Halifax, the British
Ambassador, and T. V. Soong, Chi
nese Minister of foreign affairs, eX-
tolled lease lend in speeches at the
luncheon, held at the Statler Hotel,
while their host, LeaseLend Ad
ministrator Edward r. Stettinius,
il, hailed this form Of mutual help
as cementing the unity that will
win unconditional victory"
The Soviet Ambassador mentioned
only by implication, in the brief adj
dress he prepared for delivery at the
luncheon. the assertion made two
Gays ago by Admiral William H,
STANDBY, United States Ambassador
10 Moscow. that the Russian people
had not been told the full truth re-
garding American help to the Soviet
fighting forces. Mr.. Litvinoff. prais-
ing the LeaSe-Lend Administration
for its help to Russia, said that, al
though much the largest part of
these supplies has had, of course, to
be provided by the Soviet Union
itself, supplies received through
lease-lend have been an enormous
help, and as such are deeply appre-
ciated by the people, who are fully
aware Of its extent
Hitler Proven Liar.
The Ambassador did not elsb-
crate on how long his people had
been fully aware" of this aid. The
Moscow radio carried details of
American supplies following Admiral
Standley's statement at a press con-
ference.
Pointing out that when, two years
ago, the Lend-Lease Act was ap-
proved. President Roosevelt recalled:
Hitler had promised his people that
this war would be a short one, a
single-front War-that our aid would
be too little and too late" And he
added:
Such also were the promises of
the military Junta of Japan.
Time has given the lie to their
promises.
Our promises have stood the test
Of time"
The President emphasized that
today "the United Nations are on
the offensive"
Two years ago" he added, the
question Was-Where would the Axis
strike next? Now the question is
where will the United Nations strike
next? The enemy will receive it's
answers on battlefelds of our own
choosing
Joint Weapon of War.
"As We strike again and again, !
lease-lend and reciprocal aid will
contribute increasingly to the inevi- |
table defeat of the Axis"
And this mutual aid" the Presi- !
dent asserted, has become more
than a Joint weapon of war. In the
smoke of battle lease-lend is helping
to forge the unity that will be re-
quired to make just and lasting
peace"
The representatives of Americas
three most powerful Allies spoke at
a. luncheon consisting entirely of |
dehydrated foods of the type ship |
ped to lease lend countries. The /
expense was borne personally by $50 |
members of the executive staff of |
the Lease-Lend Administration A
number Of other diplomatic repre- |
sentatives of the United Nations
were present.
The Chinese foreign minister
said: Il would be less than frank
If say that China is satisfied with
the amount of aid she has received
from lease-lend. AS Mr.. Stettinius
himself told the Senate Foreign Re
lations Committee last week.
"Lease-lend aid to China has not
been nearly as great as the situa-
ton requires.
Praise for Gen. Arnold.
MIR Soone credited 1t. Gen. H. H. |
Arnold, head of the United States
Air Forces, with surrounding bar
rlers once considered impossible
and flying aid to China
Under competent leadership" he
said, American flyers have shown
that the mountains are. after all,
not so forbidding, that the fright
ening monsoon is but lot of rain.
And Allied air superiority over
North Burma has effectively pre-
vented any successful japanese in
PERCEPTION"
He saw the lease-lend problem of
China essentially one of more
transport planes; more transport
planes for supplies to ground troops.
and more transport planes for the
maintenance of combat planes"
The story Of lease-lend in Great
Britain. said Lord Halifax. is written
IN the dramatic victories of the 9Th
Army over Rommel, and is written
IN the seapOWer which guards the
conveys and tightens ever more
closely the iron bands of the block
ade,' and in the great air raids
which even now are shatterlng the
industrial centers and ports of Ger
many"
Mr.. LitvInoff pointed out that war
materials from America have been
used in both defensive and offensive
operations Of the Red Army.
American fighters he added.
notably Airacobras, have given
specially good account Of them
selves"
One regiment Of the Red air force.
he cited, is using nothing but Aira-
cobras and has been given the title
Of guard regiment for its distin-
guished services.
p D.