AMERICAS AND AXIS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 January 1942, Page 5

AMERICAS AND AXIS

ARGENTINACAUSES HITCH TIME LIMIT FOR DECISION NEW YORK, January 23. Dispatches from Rio de Janeiro indicate that the situation is still not clear as to the prospects of Argentine participation in a joint severance of relations with Axis Powers. Its prospects are now slightly less favourable that Argentina will do so. Attempts are being made for a compromise agreement. The United Press Agency says: “Other Foreign Ministers have given the Argentine until to-morrow afternoon to support the resolution for the severance of diplomatic relations with the Axis. The President of Argentina, Senor Castillo, said: “Argentina does not agree that an attack on one American nation signifies that all of the other nations should take up a position of belligerency.” GERMAN THREAT OF WAR. RIO DE JANEIRO, January 23. It is reported that Germany has sent a new warning to Brazil and probably to the other Latin American nations, that the break-off of relations with the Axis Powers would mean war. Brazil is reported to be making widespread defence preparations and to be taking drastic precautions against subversive elements. BRITISH COMMENT RUGBY, January 22. Satisfaction is expressed here at the report that a sub-committee of the Pan-American Conference at Rio de Janeiro, where the representatives of 21 nations are present, has agreed upon a statement providing for severance of relations with the Axis Powers. The statement is expected to come before the full conference as a declaration which will then have to be ratified by the individual nations according to the procedure of their own constitutions. ■> The “Evening Standard,” describing the development of events as “a setback for one of Hitler’s hopes,” adds that Mr. Roosevelt denies the conception of fighting an isolated war just as he has so long and bitterly contested the illusion of an isolationist peace. Hence the importance of the Rio de Janeiro conference. Full protection for the United States’ flank would require a decision by the South American States to stamp out fifth columnists at home and put their faith in an Allied victory abroad. The declaration brings the States much nearer that frame of mind.

U.S.A. WAR PLANS. SHIPBUILDING PROGRAMME WASHINGTON, January 22. The Senate has passed a 775 million dollar authorisation I'or shipbuilding and repair facilities. Mr. Land, chairman of the Marine Commission, in a progress report to Congress, said the construction of Allied shipping now was forging ahead of the sinkings. United States merchant tonnage was now seven millions, and twelve millions was in' prospect in 1943. Britain began with twenty-one million tons. She lost about nine millions. In the same time she created an additional five millions. The Axis Powers had lost about five million tons. The total world shipping losses are about twenty-seven per cent, ol the fifty-two million tons available before the war. The Maritime Commission has asked shipping companies engaged in the Atlantic, Pacific, and coastal trade to cancel projected sailings, because the Commission is taking over all ships of over 5000 tons, for essential services. PLANES CONSTRUCTION WASHINGTON, January 23. The Army has urgently requested Congress to appropriate 12,526 million dollars for the construction of 33,000 planes. Lieutenant-General Arnold explained to the House Appropriation Committee that the request was a continuation of the present rate of production, and was made before Mr. Roosevelt asked Congress for 60,000 planes in 1942, and 125,000 in 1943. POTENTIAL - PRODUCTION. WASHINGTON, January 22. The Office of Production Management (which is being abolished) has made a report, analysing potential war production of the warring countries. It says: “America has hopelessly outclassed Japan.” The report refers to the following annual figures as evidence: Electricity output: United States eighty-two thousand million kilowattt hours, Japan twenty-one thousand million k.w.h.; machinery: United States five thousand million dollars value, Japan one thousand million dollars; steel ingots: United States sixty-eight million tons, Japan nine million tons; coal: United States 505 million tons, Japan 80 million tons; crude oil: United States 1,300 million barrels, Japan ten hundred million barrels. All of the Japanese figures given include Manchukuo. The report explains that, despite Japanese inferiority, America can devote only a part of its tremendous output to the Far Eastern front. This is in view of the enormous share being needed for other fronts.