ON THE SEAS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1938, Page 8

ON THE SEAS

AMERICA'S POLICY

INFLUENCE OF JAPAN

A STATE OF PREPAREDNESS

(Prom "The Post's" Representative.) NEW YORK, January 18, Attacks by Japanese on ships and personnel of the United States navy and- mercantile marine have done more than any other set of circumstances to arouse American people to a sense of the need to be prepared for any eventuality. This feeling has been heightened by the activity of Japanese fishing boats on the Pacific coast, and persistent reports of the movements of spies and secret agents.

The United States authorities halted one or more of the larger Japanese vessels in Californian ports, and seized a quantity of mail, addressed to persons in Japan, which was being carried in contravention of the international postal' convention. Stringent regulations have been issued to cope with the activities of photographers in naval base areas. The Panama Canal is the subject of close watch, owing to the recent movements of persons believed to be agents of Japan.

One incident throws into bold relief this new official atmosphere of preparedness. A U.S. navy plane disappeared, with seven occupants. Their names, and the locale of the tragedy, have been withheld from the public.

The coast of British Columbia and its undefended state have been openly referred to as the weak point in American defence, especially so as there are 35,000 Japanese in that province—s per cent, of the population. Japan has been buying up the whole of the output of British Columbia's base metal mines; one company, owned by New" York interests, has shipped 14,000 tons since contracts were let. Japanese interests are endeavouring to acquire properties on Canada's Pacific frontier for the supply of timber and metals. Canadian law requires that the preponderance of directors of firms must be of British origin; it is charged that many Canadian directors are appointed, merely as dummies, on Japanese British Columbia firms. A MERCANTILE MARINE. Another phase of the preparedness programme is the determination of President Roosevelt and his Administration to build a strong mercantile marine, as an auxiliary to the navy. Reciprocal trade treaties, to be consummated this year with Great Britain, Canada, and Australia, are to afford means of extending American seaborne trade, with American ships participating. During the past year American exports to countries with which America has signed trade treaties increased by 42 per cent., while imports grew by 22 per cent. As Canada is the most productive in this reciprocal trade, it would appear that the new policy is intended, in the first instance, to boost American exports. With this objective in view, the United States Government, during the past ten days, awarded lucrative subsidies to seven major shipping lines, to assure strengthening of the mercantile fleet, coincidental with the naval expansion programme. The Maritime Commission,' which has been ordered to put new life into merchant shipping, announced approval of long-term contracts for construction, by 1942, of 20 new ships for the foreign trade. There is a possibility that the number may be increased to 63 vessels. In addi, tion. arrangements for another 25 ships had been made previously.! Shipyards started the New Year with 124 vessels, of 300,860 tons gross, under construction. The new vessels range from 25,000 tons downward, with oil tankers predominating.