military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (11/02/89)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Thursday, 2 November, 1939 The US House of Representatives votes to repeal the arms embargo clause of the Neutrality Act, which the Senate has already done. This clears the way for arms sales on a cash-and-carry basis to belligerent powers. France immediately orders some 4600 aircraft engines, while Britain begins negotiating for 1600 training aircraft. Further orders for as many as 7800 warplanes are expected, with purchases totalling over $1 billion forecast for the next few weeks. Germany responds with threats to widen its U-boat efforts in the Atlantic, and war that this action might drag the US into war. '...General Hugh Johnson, along with Lindbergh, are the few Americans quoted in the Nazi press... Headlines over the capture of the American ship _CITY OF FLINT_ , "UNCALLED-FOR INDIGNATION OVER THE CITY OF FLINT- GENERAL JOHNSON AGAINST OBVIOUS AGITATION." (1) The Finnish delegation returns to Moscow with their final offer. A Moscow radio broadcast claims that Finland has "delivered an open threat of war against the Soviet Union." Reporter: Bob Beville (rbeville%tekig5.pen.tek.com@RELAY.CS.NET) (1) William L. Shirer, BERLIN DIARY -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "It means an unlimited supply of fighting and bombing planes is available to the Allies. United States manufacturing facilities in this respect never have been actually tested, but are so far beyond anything ever conceived that there is no limit to the supply avialable." - unidentified British aircraft expert.