America in the Scale
Since the delivery of President Roosevelt's " dagger in the back " speech at Charlottesville, Virginia, on Monday evening opinion in the United States has been changing even more rapidly than the article by our American correspondent on a later page, written a fortnight ago, suggested. Penetrated at last with a recognition of the realities of the situation, America may almost be said to be ready for anything, even war if need be. War, actually, is not yet an immediate issue, for what Britain and France need most, and what America can supply at once, is munitions. All obstacles to that are being broken down. The President could release army and navy planes at once on his own authority, but he had to seek the approval of Congress for the similar disposal of artillery and small arms. That has duly been accorded. On Wednesday it was announced that the United States Steel Corporation had acquired from the War Department over L9,000,000 worth of munitions and ordnance for immediate re-sale " at cost price " to the Allies. Aeroplanes are the chief need, and there the fact has to be faced that the United States is not yet organised for intensive production. But marked acceleration is in progress, and in present circumstances the 25o aeroplanes of various types that are being despatched this week are an important accession of strength. And though American munitions may take some time to arrive, the knowledge that they are coming will justify us in drawing freely on our own reserves. President Roose- velt's undertaking to extend to the Allies " the material resources of this nation," and the interpretation he is putting on that pledge, give us everything we have a right to expect or ask.
