THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512020007
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
I take exception to the letter from Jack A. Palmer (``British, French don't merit U.S. scorn,'' Nov. 21).
Mr. Palmer's expression of appreciation to the American people might have been more acceptable had he not ended with ``we thank you for helping us to win World War II. It would have taken us a bit longer without you.''
Apparently Mr. Palmer is either British or French. In any case, I wish to offer the following: Official military records indicate that to the victory in Western Europe and Italy the United States contributed 68 divisions, 15,000 combat aircraft, well over 1 million tanks and motor vehicles and 135,000 American dead.
The rapid defeat of France and the possible collapse of Britain drastically accelerated defense preparations in the United States. President Roosevelt directed the transfer of large stocks of ammunition to France and Britain in the spring of 1940, and in September he agreed to transfer 50 destroyers to Britain in exchange for bases in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. This was not, as stated by Mr. Palmer, ``paid for with gold and hard cash, before lend-lease was invented.''
As for lend-lease, I do not recall hearing of any ``paid-back'' from either France or Britain.
A. LEWIS GREENE
Suffolk, Nov. 24, 1995 by CNB