PACIFIC NAVAL BASES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 126, 21 February 1941, Page 7

PACIFIC NAVAL BASES

U.S. Expansion Plan DISREGARD OF JAPAN URGED I By Telegraph— Press Assn.—Copyrigar. WASHINGTON, February 19. The House of Representatives approved authorizations for naval construction at Guam and Samoa. The authorizations for Atlantic and also Pacific bases totalled 245,000,000 dollars. This represents the first step in carrying out President Roosevelt’s supplementary naval expansion programme, whicii provides for a total expenditure <>f 898,000,000 dollars. Tlie chairman of tlie Naval Com niittce. Mr. Paul Vinson, read a letter from Admiral Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, .suggesting that Japan's protest at United States naval measures should be totally disregarded. Admiral Stark pointed out that the House last year defeated a similar project for defence work at Guam because Japan might take offence. Admiral stark’s letter emphasized Hint Guam was American property, and added: “Our action should be determined by what is best for tlie United .States, and not dictated by any foreign Power.” Mr. Vinson said: "The United Stales navy is on its roes, ready for any emergency. It was announced Hutt two new American battleship; will be commissioned within the next three months, both of them well ahead of schedule. The 3a,-000-ton battleship Washington will be pur into commission on May 11. six months and a half earlier than expected. and the battleship North Carolina will be commissioned still a month before —on April 11. When tlie debate in the Senate was resumed. Senator Connally pleaded for national unity in support of the Aid to Britain Bill. "The democracies must all hang together, or they will hang separately." he said. “This is a death struggle between democracy and ruthless tyranny. Our material interests, our world prestige, and our domestic tranquillity require us to meet this titanic issue with a single voice and a single purpose. America must play her part and must nor fail.”