JAPAN'S PLOT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 670, 25 January 1933, Page 1

JAPAN'S PLOT.

MANDATED ISLANDS FORTIFIED. Startling Allegations. LEAGUE AND UNITED STATES PERTURBED. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received January 25, noon) LONDON, January 24. It is understood that the Mandates Commission report which is being presented to the League Council, deals with startling allegations that Japan has spent £IOO,OOO in the preparation of submarine bases in the Pelew and Marianne Islands. 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 the reports that Japan is secretly preparing submarine bases in the Marianne and Pelew Islands, which are held under mandate forbidding their fortification. Japan meanwhile is forbidding unauthorised visitors to approach the new harbours.

This;3map shows the relation of the Pelew Islands (in the Caroline Group) to Japan, the Philippines (U.S.A. territory) and Australia. The Marianne or Ladrone Islands are situated north of the Carolines. The report was shown to Mr S. M. Bruce, who quoted an extract from the minutes of the Permanent Mandates Commission, showing that a similar rumour had been investigated last year by the Commission, which sent a Note to the Japanese delegates, whose denial was later confirmed by the Government's statement that Japan never contemplated a naval base in the islands under mandate.