Co-operation with America
On President Roosevelt's initiative the United States has taken two simple and straightforward, yet profoundly significant steps towards creating common bonds of defence between the English-speaking countries. The first arose directly out of a report by Washington experts earlier in the year, which indi- cated that for adequate defence the United States needed naval and air bases in certain regions outside her territory. On this the President sounded the British Government as to whether something, could be arranged ; and it has been agreed in principle, with the utmost goodwill on both sides, that the United States shall be granted bases in the West Indies and in Newfoundland on 99-year leases. The second step took the form of a direct approach by the United States, in the person of Mr. Rooses elt, to Canada, in the person of Mr. Mackenzie King, resulting. in the creation of a Joint Defence Board. The exact scope of the Board is not limited in advance, but it is to be a permanent body ; and is to start studying immediately the problems of the sea, land and air defence of the northern half of the Western hemisphere, " including personnel and material." The last words may or may not refer to some scheme to sur- mount the technical difficulties of transferring American destroyers to Great Britain. The creation of the Board has been warmly welcomed both in Canada and at Washington. Special interest has also been taken in it not only in London, but by Australia.
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