AMERICAN DEFIANCE OF JAPAN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 99, 20 January 1939, Page 9

AMERICAN DEFIANCE OF JAPAN

Mid-Pacific Island To Be

Fortified

INCREASED HARDENING OF

OPINION

By Telegraph.—Press Aeen. —Copyright* (Received January 19, 10.30 p.m.)

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 authorizing a total expenditure of 60,000,000 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 threat 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. _lt is felt'that the Bill will be passed with a substantial majority. The other development is an organization 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 opposition to Japan’s policies in China, is considered specially significant.

6000 PLANES FOR U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS

(Received January 19, 10.30 p.m.)

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 first step toward the realization of the President’s defence programme. The War Department will draft sight other Bills covering other phases of the programme.