Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-09
BY the Associated Press,

Arguments for and against the
proposed loan to Britain took form
yesterday as Congress studied the
complicated terms worked out by
Anglo-American Experts.
Meanwhile, preparations went for
ward for President Truman to send
a message to Congress soon, asking
for approval of a $3.50 600, 900 loan
The tentative agreements signed
by the two governments call for to-
tai credits of $4,400,000, 900.
Following are the questions being
asked most often about the proposal
The answers are based on official
statements by American and British
officials-or on information supplied
by them
Need for Loan Cited.
@. Why do the British need a
loan?
A. The British exist by exporting
and importing. Their money re-
serves were seriously depleted dur
ing the war and their trade was cut
by 10 per cent. They said they
needed financial help to restore ii
to a profitable point.
@. How much do they need?
A. Originally they asked for up to
$4,000, 100000 as a gift. The final
agreement is for a, loan of $780,
100000 at 2 per cent interest and 1t
must be repaid in S. years
Tc that al {I,o,, ore
A. No They also are receiving
on the same terms a credit of about
$3.50 ,000,000 This enables Britain to
pay in SIS years for recently shipped
lease-lend goods and goods delivered
after lease-lend ended; and for
quantities of American surplus goods
they want to buy. 1t also pays the
United States for our share of in
stallations in Britain, and balances
certain wartime claims the two gov
ernments held against each other
This $3.50, 100000 credit does not re-
quire approval of Congress.
@. Would this agreement settle
Britain's lease-lend account with
the United States?
A. Yes. Both President Truman
and the late President Roosevelt
have stated that the United States
would not seek dollar for dollar re-
payment for the war goods we sup
piled them to help smash the Axis.
About $29, 000, 000, 900 worth Of lease
lend was supplied Britain while she
returned 81 1920, 000,0 900 in reverse
!lease-lend.
Britain's Back to Wall.
@. Why should the United States
lend Britain s3,750,000 900?
A. American officials say Britain
has her back to the wall economi-
cally, and only with a big loan can
she cooperate with the United
States in organizing greater and
more free world trade. They say
the loan is necessary to avoid divid-
ing the world into economic blocs
which Secretary Of State Byrnes
said might lead to war.
@. What are some chief argu-
ments against the loan?
A. Opponents are saying that
Britain still owes a big debt from
the World War, so why should we
lend her any more? 1t is contended
that Britain will never repay this
loan, that America should get more
concessions than mere promises to
cooperate economically. Critics OF
British imperialism are using the
loan issue to assail British colonial
policy. And critics of the Labor
government are arguing that loar
would support socialism over there
@. What happens if Britain does
not get the money?
A. Lord Keynes, Britain's fore
most economist, argued that Britain
then would not have enough dollars
to buy heavily in the United States
md would be forced to channel hel
trade to the British Empire in order
to survive.
@. How would Britain confine
trade to the British Empire?
A. Chiefly by setting up tariffs
and monetary controls which would