U.S. Navy To Police Pacific

Northern Advocate, 1 October 1943, Page 3

U.S. Navy To Police Pacific

WASHINGTON, September 24: “A powerful United States navy in the Pacific will constitute the most potent argument for preserving peace in that area,” said Congressman W. G. Magnuson, chairman of the Special House of Representatives Naval SubCommittee, in calling for permanent acquisition of sea and air island bases in oi’der to make the United .States Navy an-effective post-war policeman of the .Pacific. ’ He added that, liis‘,committee would consult State Department officials and subsequently the Navy Secretary (Colonel Knox) to ascertain what additional Pacific bases were required. and' what Congress must do .to acquire them. “We are not building the largest navy in the world just to sink it after the war, and we are not building it to keep it chained to the shores of this country, to rust after victory. So, in order to keep the navy afloat, we have just got to have the bases. Why, we have so many ships now that we could not get them all into continental harbours.” A Pacific Charter Representative W. B. Barry submitted to the House of Representatives a resolution urging a Pacific Charter similar to the Atlantic Charter. He suggests that a congressional committee be directed to study and determine upon the principles and policies which should be observed in order to assure the peoples of the Pacific area of the greatest possible measure of peace, freedom, and security in the future. The Maritime Commission chairman (Rear-Admiral E. S. Land) told the press that he favours limiting the size of the Axis post-war merchant fleets. “I am expressing my own views, but if I had my way they would be' left with very little.” Admiral Land added that by the end of 1944 the American shipyards will have delivered approximately 50,000,000 dead-weight tons of merchant shipping since 1938. The construction programme has now reached the levelling-off state. ■, The September production* rate will be sufficient to meet the 1943-44 goals. - -