U.S. SEEKS BRITISH ISLES IN PACIFIC

Chronicle (Levin), 13 May 1946, Page 5

U.S. SEEKS BRITISH ISLES IN PACIFIC

VAST PLANS FOR DEFENGE

Received Sundav, 7.30 p.m. NEW YORK, May 11. United States has indicated to Britain it would like to at-fcain . 3b v efel gfity >b v er three- P aci fic i sl a'n ds-— ■ British- owned Ohristmas and Funafuti Islands and ('linton Island, which is at present under a British- American condominiuni, says the New York Times. The three islands would form part of a vast United 'States defence system, part of which would vun under American sovereignty, part in collaboration with the British and other Pacilie poAvers, and part under the security trusteeship councils of United Nations. The islands were all part of an American strategic island chain during the war and there wero American bases of some description on each. These are not the only islands over which Ameriea is seeking sovereignty. Ameriea probably won't put Saipan and Tinian under United Nations but will insist at the peace conference that they be piaced under United States sovereignty. There has been little trouble with Britain or the Dominions concerning the granting of bases is the Empire to Ameriea and little doubt Ameriea will be able to take sovereignty over as many former Japanese mandates as she pleases'. On tlie other hand, Ameriea 's request for sovereignty over Ohristmas and the Funafuti Islands raises a question of prineiple even more important than the islands themselves — whether it is advantageous for future Pacifie defence to increase the number of small islands under the sovereignty of oue natibnj or whether security will be bettei' p'romoted bj^ a defence system worked out by the major Pacific powers under United Nations. Britain is eager to work out an international defence system, pointing out that if it gives sovereignty of any islands to Ameriea, those islands might be closed to Britain in any Pacific war in which Ameriea is neutral. The fact that the islands are usefnl as civil war bases further complicates the matter.