U.S.A. AND JAPAN

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1936, Page 7

U.S.A. AND JAPAN

SENATOR’S PLAIN SPEAKING CHALLENGE SHOULD BE MET [BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] ■, WASHINGTON, February 10. ' Senator Pittman, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, delivered an address in the Senate to-day, in which he was so critical of Japanese policy that it is feared the address is likely to arouse world-wide attention. He claimed that Japan intends Io close the door to China on America, “even if war is necessary to accomplish it”; and he advocated American

naval and air forces sufficient to “protect” American rights. "China is still an independent Government, at peace with the world, and desirous of trading with us,” he said, “and there is nothing in tHe circumstances that can legally, or long physically, interfere with such trade.’ He characterised as arrogant and impertinent alleged statements by Admil al Takahashi that, unless the United States renounces her naval policy, which aimed at the expansion and protection of her foreign trade, Japan will be forced to extend her fleet’s cruising radius of New Guinea, Celebes and Borneo: and to establish a foothold in Formosa and in the mandated South • Sea Islands. Senator Pittman declared that Congress would not be “bulldozed” into the. abandonment of national defence and of the protection of America’s legitimate foreign trade, or her commerce with China.

Senator Lewis, who recently visited Russia, joined Senator Pittman in his attack on Japan. He did so with the novel prediction that Japan and the Soviet would yet form an alliance against the United States for the domination of Asia, to the exclusion of American trade; and that eventually tthey would co-operate in the seizure of Alaska and the Philippines. A Military Appropriation Bill, introduced in Congress to-day, calls for a record expenditure of 572 million dollars—although, of this, 197 million dollars is for non-military purposes, such as the building of waterways and other internal improvements, which are handled by the War Department. The allocation for military purposes is increased by 23 million dollars. Funds for the construction of 565 combat aeroplanes are included.