Committee unanimously approved a bill authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to sell or loan obsolete nova' equipment to the Philippines Government. Amendments to the bill provide that the Secretary's authority ends when the Philippines acquires its independence and prohibit trans-for by the Philippines of any equipment received from the United States.
Committee members indicated that the bill would be expedited in the House because of the critical situation in the Pacific, Mr. Warren G. Magnuson, Democratic Representative of Washington said he believed the first materials which would be transferred to the Philippines would be torpedoes for the Island's motor torpedo boat fleet. He declared the measure would be more than a goodwill gesture and that the Philippines would obtain considerable material aid.
The bill also authorized the Secretary of the Navy to perform services for the Philippines such as installing equipment at cost. Mr. Magnuson said he believed the Philippines would receive obsolete materials at extremely nominal prices. The most pressing need, he said, was for tor-pedees, approximately 1,000 of which were needed at present.—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.