More American Help
Various new developments have combined to impress on the United States the need for still more far-reaching measures cif co-operation with- the Allies. One is the great German offensive on the eastern front, which no doubt played its part in the refusal of Congress on Wednesday to exclude Russia from the provisions of the Lease-Lend Act. On the same day the terms of the personal letter which Mr. Averill Harriman took to M. Stalin from President Roosevelt, promising all possible American aid to Russia, were published. The Lease- Lend appropriation which the House was asked to approve, and no doubt will approve, amounts to close on £1,509,000,000. Another new factor of some importance is the announcement by the Government of Panama that merchant-ships on that country's register may no longer be armed. This ends the arrangement by which American-owned ships, debarred by the Neutrality Act from carrying guns while sailing under the United States flag have sailed under the Panama flag instead. It was accordingly made known on Wednesday that President Roosevelt would ask Congress to amend the Neutrality Act so as to allow American ships to carry guns for defensive purposes, a proposal to which no serious opposition is expected. Whether the President will also, as many of his closest advisers urge, ask also that American ships be no longer excluded from battle- zones, i.e., be allowed to sail to British ports, and whether, if he does, Congress will be equally ready to concur, is still doubtful. All this is important in view of the indications that a fresh intensification of submarine-warfare in the Atlantic is to be attempted.
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