Evening star., 1944-08-07
Leuse-Lend
Continued From First Page.)

and relief questions are progressing
well. So far as lease Send Is con
cerned, that Is a daily and hourl,
administrative task which Is neces
sarily confined to its current phases
Cannot Foresee Changes.
mo one can foresee what change!
in the situation the fortunes of wal
in Europe may bring about or how
soon these changes may reflect
themselves in the lease-lend opera.
tions.
Since the steps necessary te
maintain the flow of supplies fol
the progress of the war require
plans which are progressing into
the future there have been from the
outset and will continue to be dis
cussions of the prospective require
mentS.
Taking into consideration the
various phases of the war our policy
is to contribute to lease-lend opera
tions and to bring about the great
est mobilization of our joint re-
sources.
The Lease-Lend Act as amended
provides that the power granted tt
transfer materials shall end Juvle
80, l945, unless prior to that time
the two houses of Congress pass 9
concurrent resolution"
Murray Fears Burden.
| Earlier today Senator Murray
Democrat, OF Montana, declared
that postwar lease-lend aid to Brit
ain might impose on our country a
burden which we shouldn't be called
on to bear
Senator Murray. chairman of a
Senate military postwar subcom-
mittee, commenting on the NAN
report. told reporter:
ut would require serious study
Congress would have to be convinced
that such aid was necessity tc
prevent complete collapse of the
economy of Great Britain"
Senator johnson, Democrat, o.
Colorado said that there prob.
ably are 999 other nations whose
situations are similar to that o.
Great Britain. Congress must Civ,
this the fullest consideration
British Call 1t Necessary.
The manufacturers weekly pub.
lication, NAM News, said yesterday
that top administration circles are
giving consideration to a propose
for providing the British with as.
sistance, at least until the fall OF
Japan land perhaps we'll into the
transition period" to support Brit
aims domestic economy.
The publication said British leaders
have told the United States that ex-
tension of lease lend beyond the wal
in Europe was absolutely necessary
to stave of a serious economic stu.
alton in England"
The proposal under discussion.
NAM said, is wide departure from
the present lease-lend program, ir
that its primary purpose would no
be to aid the prosecution of the war
but would be very frankly to support
Britain's domestic economy. Tht
program would cost United State.
taxpayers $2,5OO,OO0,O00 and up &
year above war costs"
Declaring that. according to un
official estimates. Britain's export,
have dropped 60 to IS per cent sine,
the outbreak of the war and tina
she has lost and liquidated an esti
mated so per cent of her foreign in
vestments, NAM said British leader
were worried especially over hov
they are going to get along the frs
few years after the fall of Germany
Thus far" the publication added
"the British have rejected all sug
eestions that such postwar as
slstance be placed on the basis O
direct loans, or that they 60 t,
the proposed international bank TO
assistance. They tell us they woult
rather have it lend leased one to]
American official explained.
Determined to Curb Debt.
The British are determined tt
avoid, in so far as possible, goinf
deeply into debt, or liquidating an,
more foreign holdings. AS result
OF our assistance to date they hav,
managed to keep their entire ma
tional debt, both foreign and do
mestic, down to around $4,000 000,.
000-and that includes about S.,
500, 100000 owed us from the las
war, which they still carry on thei
books-While our own debt is soar
ing towards an estimated $500, 900,
900, ,000."
NAM said a primary concern o
administration officials was now t,
make Congress understand.
There is already considerable
feeling on the Hill that the British
may come out of this war stronge
fiiscally than ourselves" the pub
lication added. Also, if we gran
such aid to the United Kingdom vii
not Russia, France, Belgium, Hol
land, and so on infinitum, expec
the same sort of treatment, they ask
And If We don't give it to then