NEWS OF THE WEEK
S public opinion in the United States moves towards realisa- tion of the danger that threatens America, action on the part of the Executive keeps pace with it, and even Congress may lag not very far behind. The American-Canadian Joint Defence Board held its first session at Ottawa last Monday, and the chairman of the American delegation, Mr. La Guardia, said on Tuesday that the Board would consider the establish- ment of bases for the United States Army, Navy and Air Force on Canadian territory and possibly in Newfoundland. This move would doubtless be linked up with the plans for bases to be leased by Britain in the West Indies alluded to by Mr. Churchill. The Conscription Bill, strongly backed by Mr. Roosevelt, has been held up by delaying tactics in Con- gress ; but now that Mr. Wendell Willkie, the Republican Candidate for the Presidency, has declared for the Bill and insisted that it be passed immediately, it is probable that the opposition will crumble. The measure was passed by the Senate on Wednesday by 58 votes to 31, and goes to the House next week. There remains the urgent question of the fifty old destroyers which may or may not be sold to Great Britain. The value of an affirmative decision depends almost entirely upon the speed with which it is arrived at. The legal difficul- ties in the way of transfer, except through direct action by a Congress which is extremely anxious to adjourn, are serious, but the country would be perfectly willing for Mr. Roosevelt give himself the benefit of any legal doubt. There is ever- -reasing evidence of the fact that the leaders of American -Anon are becoming alive to the fact that Great Britain is -lending America and must be given more active support.
