AERIAL SURVEY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 20, 3 November 1933, Page 5

AERIAL SURVEY.

UNITED STATES IN PACIFIC. REPORTED JAPANESE RASES. United Press Association— LONDON, November 2. The "Daily Herald" says that the United States, at a cost of £IOO,OOO is preparing a big aerial survey of the Pacific Islands, nominally to collect geographical and scientific information but in reality to find out what the Japanese are doing. The United States, it is said, is thoroughly alarmed at the persistent reports of fortified naval, submarine and air bases in'the Bonin, Marianne and Pelew Islands.

If fortifications are .discovered they will be a flagrant breach of Article 19 of the Washington Treaty. The survey is likely to occupy a year.

The Bonin Islands are accounted as part of Japan proper, but the-Mar-ianne and Pelew Islands, formerly German, ' were allotted to, Japan by the League of Nations under mandate. The terms of the mandate forbids their fortification. Article XIX. of the Washington Naval Treaty says:— The United States,the British Empire and Japan agree that the status quo at the time of the signing of the present treaty with regard to fortification and naval bases shall be maintained in their respective territories and possessions specified hereunder: . . (1) The insular possessions winch the United States, now holds or may hereafter acquire in .the Pacific Ocean, except (a) those adjacent .to .the coast of the United States, Alaska and the Panama- Canal Zone, not including the Aleutian Islands and (b) the Hawaiian Islands. (2) Hong Kong and the insular possessions which the British Empire now holds, or may hereafter acquire in the Pacific Ocean east of the meridian of 110 degrees east longitude, except {a) Sose adjacent to the coast> ofpanada (h) 'the Commonwealth of Austialia and its territories and (c) New Zeaai(3) The following insular territories and possessions of Japan in the Pacific Oceal to wit, the Ivurile Islands the Bonin Islands, Amami-Oshima Islands the Loochoo Islands, Form*a and the Pescadores, and any insular ton tories or possessions in the racmo which Japan may hereafter «£J£* The maintenance of the status quo nnder the foregoing provisions implies that no new fortifications, or naval bases shall be established in the temtories and possessions specified; that n„ measures shall be taken fe-WW* he existing naval facilities for the enair and maintenance of nayal ioices an that no increase shall'be made m SS coast defences of the territories and possessions specified.

ISLANDS NOT FORTIFIED.

ASSURANCE' TO COMMISSION

(Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) GENEVA. November 2. Air Ito (Japanese delegate) informed the Mandates Commission or -tne League of Nations that it is not true that Japan is fortifying the mandated islands in the Pacific.