[peyton randolph]

Some critics, including Lord Keynes, saw the loan as a means used by America to subjugate Britain after the war.

---

Should have charged the Brits for all Cold War expenses associated with keeping them from speaking Russian.

[Irish Rose]

Some critics, including Lord Keynes, saw the loan as a means used by America to subjugate Britain after the war.

He was correct. But the British, by paying off the debt, have cleverly thwarted our evil, complicated, and very long-term plot.

[kinoxi]

Evil Americans doing nasty sort of things on Christmas as usual Eh?

:)

[kinsman redeemer]

Ping-a-Ling

[kinsman redeemer]

Ping-a-Ling

[t_skoz]

great, now each American family's share of the national debt is only $395,283,218,355,028,173,385,753,938


can we please stop being taxed into submission already? how about we pay ourselves back instead of wasting billions on the failed drug war, failing public schools, failing social security, a failed war in iraq... etc etc.

[preacher]

Nixon, by executive order, forgave the Soviet Union's Lend-lease debt.

[starbase]

Nice to get repaid, but what a loaded article!!

Britain received about $30 billion of goods — just over £7 billion at the prevailing exchange rate— during the war years, in effect gifts from America.

Hmm, he says the prevailing exchange rate, but doesn't specify if it's 7 billion pounds in todays pounds, don't you think today's pounds would be a better measure than the exchange rate value of 60 years ago?

But in September 1945 the US abruptly announced an end to the Lend-Lease programme, despite the need for large-scale reconstruction and with Britain on its knees economically.

Let the whining begin! The arrogance of foreigners always strikes me. They both state what we need to do for them, and fail to state why they are of such integral value to us! Go figure.

Goods already in Britain or in transit were sold to the UK government at heavily discounted prices — one-tenth of their value — the amount paid being in the form of a loan.

You're welcome.

The amount, together with a line of credit, was $4.34 billion with a 2% interest rate, originally intended to be paid back over 50 years beginning in 1950. Some critics, including Lord Keynes, saw the loan as a means used by America to subjugate Britain after the war.

I'd like to be subjugated with 2% interest and a 50year repayment window!

As it was, keeping up the payments was often difficult.

Whaa, whaa! I'm crying here. India had a real lean 150 years there too, as all their wealth and resources were whored away by the Britishers. Considering that (and all of Britain's other colonial "successes") it so funny to see them wail for their own lost pennies. What prima donnas!

Many war loans are never repaid.

Wow, and you get a gold star for being special too.

Britain borrowed money from America during the first world war but never fully settled the debt. This was because President Herbert Hoover declared a debt moratorium during the global financial crisis of 1931.

Er, you could actually still send it on over, you know, Hoover won't stop you now, actually.

At the time of the moratorium, Britain was owed more in war debt by other countries than it owed to America.

Whaaa, whaaa, poor suffering Imperial victims. I hope he's not implying that Hoover declared a moratorium on Britain's debts, he didn't have that power, but it would be par for the course for some foreigners to release their own debts, then say we did it!

I expected this to be posted by MadIvan, as I've seen him reference the "final loan repayment" elsewhere. I wonder what his take on this exercise in self-pity would be?

And Merry Christmas everyone!

[SkyPilot]

The Roosevelt Administration was no early friend to Britain from 1939 - 1941.

Even historian Steven Ambrose said, on tape, that America drove a "very hard bargain" regard any aid sent.

Not only did Roosevelt hold back the best equipment, he forced Britain to give up key bases and territories throughout the world.

[Caipirabob]

That was nice of them. To be honest, they paid the debt in blood standing by us when the world has turned it's back on us throughout the WOT. Then again, it's definitely in the best interests of both nations to fight together.

Yet they stood with us when their resident idiots were screaming louder than our own to deny us aid. God bless us both, our other great allies and protect our nations...from the enemies without and WITHIN...

[G-Man 1]

The USA should have taken Canada as repayment for WW1 and WW2 debt and keeping the communist from taken them over. But then again half of the Brits were commie sympathizers.

[MuttTheHoople]

DARN! There goes our plot to make England our 51st State.

[hnj_00]

good article...brings out how some people feel again...blame america...yeah that's right...it was the US fault to fight in european war theatres 20 years apart in the first half of the 20th century saving freedom!!!

when will the french start paying back their debts?????

[IronJack]

By my way of seeing it, we owe Britain at least as much as they owe us. They were the rampart of Fortress Europe; without them, we never could have launched the counteroffensive that ultimately drove to Berlin. Their courage during the Blitz and the bleak days after Dunkirk is an object lesson for any nation beset by implacable enemies. Love them or hate them, they have proven dependable allies with steel in their spines.

By standing true to their debt, they have proven that their honor is equally staunch.

[SeeSalt]

"Some critics, including Lord Keynes, saw the loan as a means used by America to subjugate Britain after the war."


Britain exist in nowadays as we know it due to America.If America wouldn't have got in WWII and wouldn't help Britain the Shakespeare language would sound like that:landwirshaflihenproductiongenosenshaft.

[Basheva]

I think we should have forgiven Britain this WW2 debt.

However, we should sue for reparations for burning the White House in the War of 1812.

And for damages during the Revolutionary War.

At today's rate.

[Chode]

they are in RARE company indeed... to my knowledge, ONLY Finland, has ever paid us back in full.

[kalee]

ping

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Will Britian pay us back for burning down the WH in 1812?

[hosepipe]

Repaying 1940 dollars with 2007 dollars is such a deal..
Since 1940 dollars were worth 10 times more maybe 20 times more..