Evening star., 1945-10-24
j. ). Hits Use
OF fLease-Lend
Arms in RevoIts
Dutch, British Asked
To Remove Emblem in
Far East Uprisings
BY GARNETT d. HORNER.

secretary OF SCate ByrneS de-
clared today that the United
States objects to use of lease
lend arms for political purposes
as they have been employed by
British and Dutch forces in the
Far East.
He told questioners at a news
conference, however, that this Gov
ernment merely had asked the Dutch
and British to remove American
emblems from lease-lend equipment
they were using against native up
risings in Indo-China and Java.
He said that he assumed that the
provisions of contracts in each case
would determine whether the United
States might claim to control post
war use of weapons supplied under
leaSe-lend.
In any event, he said, it is rou-
tine policy that lease-lend property
put to any postwar use with a politi-
cal connotation should not bear the
emblem of the United States.
Policy Applies Everywhere.
The policy of objection applies
everywhere, Secretary Byrnes added,
asserting that if it has not been in
voked it should be in South America
or any other section of the world.
1t was learned from other sources
that State, Department officials
assume reports are correct that
lease-lend equipment was used dur
ing revolution in Venezuela last
week which brought to power a lib
eral regirse cooperating with young
army officers.
These officials did not see any,
thing that could be done now about
such use, however, and are inclined
to favor recognition of the revolu-
tionary regime.
State Department spokesmen have
made it clear that this country will
not take part in any forceful meas
ures to put down native disturbances
in the Netherlands Indies or French
Indo-China, but is prepared to as
sist in peaceful settlement of trou-
bles there.
In Indo-China and the Indies,
lease-lend materials have been used
by troops of the colonial powers to
attempt to restore order.
No Conflict Indicated.
Top officials believe, on the basis
of present information, that there
is no conflict between United
States interests and liberal policies
of the Venezuelan revolution lead
ers who appear to be patriots
earnestly seeking to democratize
their government.
If this view is borne out by
further investigation and events of
the next few days, the United States
probably will recommend recognition
of the regime in consultation with
other American republics. No &C
ton is expected without such con-
sultation.
The possibility that arms supplied
by this country may be used in
further internal disturbances in
ooObl1 E1illN1 INQt
State Department officials to op-
pose proposals for large-scale dis
posal of surplus Army and Navy
equipment to Latin American coun-
tries
Such proposal is supported by
those who favor strengthening the
armed forces of the other American
Republics in development of an
inter-American defense system, Or
ganized to repel any threat to hem
ispheric peace by joint action.
The State Department is revis-
ing it's draft of a new inter -Ameri-
can defense treaty, setting up a
regional security system within the
framework of the United Nations,
to be submitted to the other Ameri-
can nations in conference at Rio
de Janiero. A new date for the con-
ference, postponed from Ostober 20
because of developments in Argen-
tina, is expected to be set next
month.
United States officials still are op-
posed to sitting in such a conference
lCee LEA Sci FNn Dooo A51