Sept. 5.
As a result of recent Anglo-Am Britain has" agreed nine sites to the United: from the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland, to the vicinity of Georgetown in British Gu OF these the bases [in Newfoundland and the Bahamas will be leased without any consideration, while the ing seven will be in exchange for military equipment which the United States British Government. In} reply to the British Note announcing th decision, Mr. Cordell Hull, US. Secretary of State accepted the British proposals and' stated that the Government of the United States "will immediately transfer to His Majesty's Government 50 United States! Navy destroyers generally referred as of the 1,200-ton type." Thus, in the one class where the British Navy has suffered most, valuable reinforcements will be received, which in addition to those vessels comis-sioned since the commencement of the war, should bring the destroyer strength to more imposing dimensions than at the beginning, of hostilities.
This increase in the most useful type of vessel for patrol and convoy work is most valuable coming at the time it has, but it has been most rightly remarked one of the most important gains to Great Britain is the psychological fact that the United States now stand in unquestioned support. behind the British war effort. At the time of writing the only information regarding the manner in which this news was received in Berlin was that the Nazis are reported to be maintaining extreme caution on the subject, German authorities alleging that the transfer involved "vast and important, ques tions and that it was impossible to define the Nazi attitude without a thorough study it involves many aspects of international law." The reference to international law in this connection will undoubtedly create the cynical amusement it merits, for though Germany has consistently ignored it throughout this war, she will most surely invoke it if that process is likely to give her any advantage, Whether the United States will seek to secure other bases besides those obtained from Britain has not yet been disclosed, but the long chain of stations stretching from Newfoundland, and possibly eventually from Greenland, tothe southern coast of the Gulf Mexico should be sufficient to secure the efficient defence of the northera portion of the western hemisphere. It still remains to be seen what dispositions the United States in conjunction with the South American republics will make to guard the southern continent, But whatever may be decided in this connection the fact stands out boldly that the intention of the United States to assist Great Britain to the fullest extent short of going to war has assumed fan even greater importance than it had when it was first announced. 'The transfer of the destroyers was made all the easier' by the official British notifteation to the United States that in the event of the waters) around Great Britain becoming untenable, there could be no question of the British Navy either surrendering or scuttling, The assurance should hardly have been neces sary, for the Briish leave the habit of scuttling to the enemy, but it is, perhaps, just fas well that such an assurance should have been given.
It is more than likely that the action which has been taken by President Roose-volt will arouse a storm of criticism from. those who still hold strongly to the doctrine of isolation, but it is interesting and important to note that the Democratic and Republican platforms in connection with this war are identical, and in all probability has done nothing which Mr, Willkie ihimself would not do were he returned to office next November. President Roose~ velt's orities will probably have their ficldday in Congress, but there is little likelihood that their opinions will have much effect upon the general policy of the United States' Government vis-li-vis of Great Britain in hor present struggle. The announcement of what has been arranged, coming as it did on the anniversary of the entry of Great Britain and France into the war may accepted as a happy augury for the future. In the political field it is a decided reverse to the Germans who thus sce all their frantic efforts at propaganda in the United States frustrated in the completest manner possible.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.