The Pittsburgh Press (August 15, 1941)
U.S. AND BRITAIN TO OFFER LONG-TERM AID TO RUSSIA
By Frederick Kuh, United Press staff writer
London, Aug. 15 –
President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in a joint message to Joseph Stalin, will announce the impending dispatch of important United States and British missions to Moscow to discuss long-term and to Russia, it was reported today.
Such an action would be a strong indication that the democracies are virtually certain of Russia’s ability to continue to defend herself against the German invaders.
Informants said the message might refer both to short-term aid to Russia – the first consignments of which are already on the way – and the more important long-term assistance.
In this connection, it was suggested, the message might intimate the advisability of sending responsible American and British representatives to Moscow to discuss all questions of supply in direct conversations.
It was reported that the message would pay tribute to the “magnificent” fight of the Red Army and the Russian people against the aggressors, and declare that the United States and British governments were taking all steps to aid the Soviet Union in its struggle.
It was believed that prominent American and British representatives would go to Moscow soon to conduct conversations with Premier Stalin and Foreign Commidar Vyacheslav Molotov as well as leaders of the armed forces and of industry.
Diplomatic sources expected the message to contain a clear indication that the United States and Britain were determined to let no power (for instance, Japan) impede their aid to Russia.