SECRET SUBMARINE BASES

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 25 January 1933, Page 5

SECRET SUBMARINE BASES

ALLEGED PLANS OF JAPAN STTR IN LEAGUE CIRCLES ISLANDS HELD UNDER, MANDATE. FORTIFICATION BAN IGNORED. (United I'rf.su Association—By Electric Telegrapn Copyright.) Received 11.45 a.m., to-day. LONDON, Jan. 24. The Geneva (correspondent of the “Daily Herald” which is bitterly, antagonistic to Japan, publishes the grave suggestion that the League and America are disturbed by reports that Japan secretly has been preparing suomanne bases at Marianne and Pelew Islands held under a mandate forbidding fortifications and that meanwhile Japan is forbidding unauthorised- visitors to approach the new harbours. A report was shown to Air. S. M. Bruce, who quoted an extract from the minutes of the Permanent -Mandates Commission showing a similar rumour was investigated last year by the commission which sent a note to the Japanese delegates' whose denial later was confirmed by the Government s statement that Japan- never had contemplated a naval base at tlie islands under the mandate. It is understood that the mandate s commission report being presented to the League Council deals with startling allegations that Japan spent £IOO,OOO in the preparation of submarine bases at Pelew and Marianne Islands.