AMERICA’S DEFENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 248, 17 September 1940, Page 8

AMERICA’S DEFENCE

CONSCRIPTION IN FORCE. (Received September ]". 1.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 16. President Roosevelt has signed the Conscription Bill, which now becomes law. ITe has proclaimed October 16 as the date for the registration of approximately sixteen million men between 21 and 35 years of age.'SENSATIONAL STORY.The New York Post features the first of a series of articles on “Men Against America,” headed, “Nazi Consul's Threats: American Editor Warned of Reprisals by Hitler.” The charges are supported by a photostat letter from the German Consul at New Orleans (Dr. von Spiegel), who attempted in February,. 1938, to intimidate and coerce the editor of the pro-American, German language newspaper Texas Free Press. The letter declared that Germany would in future act drastically against international newspaper propaganda containing lies, JOINT NAVAL POLICY. BRITAIN AND UNITED STATES. SHARING DEFENCE DUTIES. WASHINGTON, Sept. 5. The United States is adopting a strong policy in the Pacific —including the bar East —leaving the Atlantic to the British Fleet. This has been made possible, it is believed, by 3Vlr Churchill’s assurance to President Roosevelt that the British Fleet would remain in being, even if United Kingdom bases could not be used. Within 24 hours of the announcement of the Anglo-American ships-for-bases agreement, the Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) publicly warned Japan not to alter the status cjuo of French Indo-Cliina or the Dutch East Indies. In addition, the Secretary for the Navy (Colonel Knox) stated that the United States was negotiating for new defence bases in the Pacific “specifically to protect the Panama Canal.” Meanwhile, informed quarters in Tokio say that the Japanese Government expects a “satisfactory” solution of the difficulties about Indo-Cliina and add that talk of a threatened Japanese occupation is “decidedly premature.” The Tokio newspaper Asalii says that the importance of Singapore would be doubled if a British Fleet, battered by the Germans, went east. It adds that the talk of a U.S.-Australian defence agreement is of “particular interest.”

MEANING SINKS IN.

In America the meaning of the new Anglo-American understanding continues to sink in. Rear-Admiral Yarnell, former Commander of the United States Asiatic Fleet, whose comments on foreign affairs are widely disseminated, suggests an immediate combination of the British and. United States Navies, which could defeat Germany and Japan, and which would result in a return to sanity and decency in international relations. He declares that if this step is delayed it may be too late. He advocates the American use of Singapore, and adds that the destroyers for Britain “indicate to Japan that we are sympathetic towards Britain, and certainly will not cause much joy among the Japanese.” He concluded: “A German victory, even if the United States is not next conquered, would mean that the United States would have to maintain itself as an armed camp for years to come, with the main part of the national income devoted to armaments.” The destroyer bases and the naval understanding concerning the pledge not to scuttle the British fleet have caused a - orofound mipicssion in Japan, where it is seen that the United States is now in a position to maintain her fleet in the Pacific indefinitely without the need to hurry a section of it to the Atlantic to deal with any eventuality there. Tokyo despatches, commenting on the large amount of space devoted in the Japanese newspapers to the new developments, state. “It is assumed that the United States, having made the front door secure, will next secure the back door.” ■ -