JAPAN IN THE PACIFIC

Evening Star, Issue 22252, 1 February 1936, Page 14

JAPAN IN THE PACIFIC

ACTIVITIES IN MANDATE ISLANDS AMERICAN JOURNALIST'S INVESTIGATIONS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, January 31. (Received February 1, at 12.30 p.ni.) The ‘ Sun-Herald 5 says: Despite the Mandates Commission’s repeated requests to Japan candidly to explain her activities in her Pacific mandates, only a generalised account has been supplied, asserting that construction has been limited to harbour improvements. The Japanese have failed to allay the League’s suspicions, especially as under the mandate fortifications are not allowed. An important and new light is thrown on developments by an American journalist, Mr Willard Price, who has just concluded four months’ investigations of these islands. In an article in the ‘ Spectator ’ he says he left the islands with the clear conclusion that there wat no ground for suspicion regarding fortifications, but every reason for grave concern regarding the islands’ significance in Asia’s future. This amazing labyrinth, comprising the Marianne, Caroline, and Marshall groups, consists of 1,400 islands, irrespective of small islands and reefs. It is so situated that Japanese aeroplanes could reach Australia in six hours, Hongkong or Singapore in 10 hours, the Dutch East Indies in three hours, and the Philippines in two hours. Some of the islands provide perfect hiding places for warships, submarines, and aircraft. Mr Price describes Palau Harbour as valuable as a potential naval base. It could accommodate at least 50 large warships. Occasional Japanese warships anchor there, but merchantmen are not allowed. Its existence is not generally known. He saw no refuelling bases and no fortifications, though if necessary these would probably come into existence with surprising alacrity. Mr Price refers to the Mandates Commission’s fears of a naval base being constructed at Saipan Harbour, and says that Saipan is so exposed that it would be completely useless as a naval base.