LEGALITY ISSUE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 282, 23 August 1940, Page 10

LEGALITY ISSUE

Transfer Of Destroyers And Use Of Bases U.S. LEADERS CONFER (Bv Telegraph—Press Aisn.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON. August 21. The Attorney-General, Mr. R. Jackson, the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Frank Knox, and other members of Cabinet, and chiefs oi the armed services held a conference which, it is believed, concerned the making available of United States, destroyers to Britain. After a long meeting Mr. Jackson announced : “We discussed legal questions involved in the proposal for the acquisition by America of naval and air bases along the Atlantic.” An official of the Justice Department said that the discussions included the legality of the transfer of destroyers toJSritain. PACIFIC ISLANDS Reference By Churchill (British Oflicial Wireless.) (Received August 22, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY. August 21. A statement in Mr. Churchill's speech in the House of Commons that “various agreements have been reached (with the United States) about certain small islands in the Pacific which have become important as air fuelling points” seems to have given rise to some misapprehension. In authoritative quarters it is believed the agreement referred to was that relating to Canton and Enderby Islands reached in 1935. On August 11, 1935, a- joint communique was made by the United States and Britain that they were going “to set up a regime for the use in common” of these islands. Tbe arrangement was made for the purpose of international aviation and communications, and each party was to have equal facilities. Notes on tbe details of the arrangement which were exchanged by the two Governments on April 16. 1939, provided for joint American and British official control of the islands with a special ad hoc regime. Only civil transport companies incorporated in the United States and tbe Empire' were to use the islands, and it was arranged that the United States should build an air base and the British Empire should have the use of it. AU the facilities publicly foreshadowed were, of course, civil. This arrangement was for 50 years, with the possibility of continuing it indefinitely. It is thought possible that these facilities may be extended to other uses should the occasion arise. AMERICAN LEGION Most Dangerous Zone Passed WASHINGTON, August 21. It is officially announced that the ship American Legion has passed the most dangerous zone in European waters. The Assistant-Secretary of State, .Mr. Welles, said Germany had not notified the United States of the presence of mines off the British coast. CONSCRIPTION BILL Amendments Rejected WASHINGTON, August 21. The House Military Affairs Committee rejected by 15 votes to 3 an amendment postponing conscription till war is declared. i The Senate refused to consider tri) amendment to conscript wealth as well as men, holding that a measure designed to raise revenue must, under the Constitution, originate in the House.

During the discussion in the Senate a hundred women members of the Congress of American Mothers gathered on the lawns of the Capitol and liirngert an effigy of Senator Pepper as a protest against conscription. U.S. FLEET AT SEA Manoeuvres Near Hawaii HONOLULU, August 21. Tlie United States fleet has gone to sea after a fortnight’s overhaul. It is expected to continue its manoeuvres for a month with its base at Lahaina Roads.