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AUSTRALIAN-U.S.
NEGOTIATIONS
ON LEND-LEASE
WASHINGTON, Friday.
Australian and American officials admitted that their Gov-
ernments were trying to seek a way out, without definite results
so far, toward a solution of what will happen when lend-lease
ends.
Among the questions raised are:
How will Australia pay for supplies
already ordered and necessary to
keep the civilian economy going and
what will happen to the huge quan-
tities of food which Australia has
been sending to the American forces
under reverse lend-lease?
In recent months, Australia has
been sending far greater value in
supplies than she had been receiv-
ing. If the United States is willing
to go on a cash basis for these and
continue for some time, then Aus-
tralia will have cash to obtain what
she needs.
Australian officials are hopeful
that something will come of the sug-
gestion by Mr. Chifley that an ad-
justment will be made, but are mak-
ing strenuous efforts to ensure that
the eventual lend-lease bill will be
the smallest possible.
One source estimated that 50 mil-
lion dollars worth of goods are need-
ed for Australian civilian economy
and if she had to pay for supplies
already in Australia then the figure
might rise to 100 millions.
It is probable that the position
will be discussed as part of the Brit-
ish problem.
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