3 OCTOBER 1941, Page 2

Allied Conference in Moscow

The Three-Power Conference at Moscow opened on Monday and ended on Wednesday not, only with complete agreement, but with a declaration that practically all Russia's requirements could and would be met. This remarkable expedition was 'no doubt made possible largely by the attention .given to advance preparation—at the cost of some slight delay which has evoked rather unreasonable criticism. Actually supplies have been going in a steady stream for some time past by more routes than one, and work is already being done on improving trans- Iranian communications. Some time ago aeroplanes were sent for the use of the Russians and two British squadrons are already operating on the eastern front ; it is believed that more will soon be in action. We have heard a good deal about the successful efforts of " Tank Week," but Mr. Churchill made it clear in his speech last Tuesday that the week's output is a very small part of the supplies which Britain and the United States propose to send, and that of the aluminium, rubber, copper, oil and other materials which will be necessary larger quantities have already gone. The object of the conference is to learn exactly what the Russians need most and what the British and Americans can send, and to arrange a steady, regu- lar supply month by month which our ally can count on. A vital point, of course, is the organisation of transport. The conference have to produce a time-table of production and supply, and it is essential that neither we nor the Americans should fall behind it. In this country there must be continued full steam ahead in all fields of production as there was in " Tank Week."