FORTIFIED BASES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 16, 20 January 1939, Page 7

FORTIFIED BASES.

Guam Is Included In Bill Approved By President. IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS. NEW YORK, January 19. Two developments have occurred which are considered to be of paramount importance in America's official and unofficial attitude to Japan regarding China. The '"Now York Times" Washington correspondent says President l'ooscvelt lias approved a measure' for fortified bases in the Pacific, particularly Guam, and that a bill authorising a total expenditure of (>0.000.000 dollars, including 5.00(1,000 dollars for a major naval base at (luam, will shortly be introduced in Congress. lhe feeling prevails that the recent Japanese Press threat that the American Navy would lie destroyed if the Lnited States fortified Guam has had a psychological effect in hastening American plans for such fortification. It is felt the bill will be passed by a substantial majority.

The other development is the organisation of a committee of prominent Americans, headed by the former Secretary of State, Mr. H. L. Stimson, called the American Committee for NonParticipation 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 opposition to Japan's policies in China, 'is considered especially significant. A bill was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday giving the Secretary for War, Mr. H. H. Woodring, authority to provide the Army Air Corps with 6000 aeroplanes as the first step to the realisation of President Roosevelt's defence programme. The War Department will draft eight other bills covering other phases of the programme.