PACIFIC BASES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 January 1939, Page 5

PACIFIC BASES

AMERICAN FORTIFICATION PLANS OPINION AGAINST JAPAN HARDENING. MOVEMENT TO END SALES OF WAR MATERIAL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright NEW YORK, January 19. Two developments which are considered to be of paramount importance to America’s official and unofficial attitude to Japan and her relations with China are seen in an announcement by the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” that he has obtained exclusive information to the effect that President Roosevelt has approved a measure .for establishing fortified bases in the Pacific, particularly at Guam Island.

A Bill authorising a total expenditure of 60,000,00 dollars, including 5,000,000 dollars for a major naval base at Guam, will shortly be introduced in Congress. The feeling prevails that the recent Japanese Press threats that the American Navy would be destroyed if the United States fortified Guam has had a psychological effect in hastening American plans for such fortification. It is felt that the Bill will be passed with a substantial majority. The other development is the organisation of a committee of prominent Americans, headed by the former Secretary of State, Mr Stimson, called the American Committee for Non-Partici-pation in Japanese Aggression, in order to promote legislation to curb the sale by American firms to Japan of war materials such as scrap iron, oil, steel and trucks.

The support of 40,000 outstanding citizens will be sought for the movement. Mr Stimson’s chairmanship of the committee, in view of his opposi tion to Japan’s policies in'China, is considered specially significant. ARMY PLANES. THE PRESIDENT’S DEFENCE PROGRAMME. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. WASHINGTON, January 19. A Bill has been introduced in the House giving the Secretary of War blanket authority to provide an army air corps of 6000 aeroplanes as a fr step toward the realisation of the President’s defence programme. The War Department will draft eight other Bills covering other phases of the programme.