JAPAN FORTIFYING PACIFIC ISLES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20455, 7 November 1934, Page 1

JAPAN FORTIFYING PACIFIC ISLES.

Geneva Delegates’ Startling Allegations Regarding Mandated Territory. WHY ARE FOREIGNERS EXCLUDED? (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright ) (Received November 7, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, November 6. VIOLATION OF TREATIES was alleged yesterday at Geneva and again’to-day when delegates to the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations alleged that Japan was fortifying mandated islands in the Pacific. Delegates cross-examined the Japanese delegate (Mr N. Ito) for five hours, but he did not explain why the destroyers of all nations had not been allowed in the recently enlarged harbours of Saipan and Palau, which were strategically placed to give access to Hawaii and the Philippines.

Delegates also wanted to know why Japan was subsidising the building of airports, yet she refused permission to foreign aviators to land.. Mr Ito admitted that manoeuvres were held in the mandated islands and in view of this foreign visitors were unwelcome. An Anglican Bishop had been refused permission to land at Saipan, though it was in his diocese, because Christian missionaries were not permitted on the islands. Mr Ito admitted that Japan had spent £BO,OOO in 1933 on the reconstructing of four harbours. Delegates questioned Mr Ito regarding reports that an American astronomical expedition was refused permission to visit certain islands to observe the eclipse of the sun, pointing out that, if they were true, then the}' - lent colour to stories that the Japanese were fortifying the islands. Mr Ito, in a somewhat reserved reply, characterised the reports as tendentious, and declared that Japan itself organised an expedition to view the j eclipse, and invited foreigners to ac- | company it. He promised to investii gate specific cases.

Members then suggested that Japan i could easily prove her sincerity by al- I lowing foreign vessels to call and in- ! spect the islands. Mr Ito did not reply. ! Asked why a big aerodrome was j being built at Saipan, in the Marianne | Islands, Mr Ito replied that aircraft j there would study atmospheric and fishery conditions. The chairman, Marquis Theodoli (Italy), suggested that if Japan wished to dispel suspicion she should afford free and unrestricted access to the islands. It rested with Japan to dispose of the allegations made against her conduct. The Australian Sun-Herald News Service says that if the Japanese have fortified their mandated islands in the Pacific and the Bonins they have not only explicitly violated Article IV of the Mandates, but also Article XIX of the Washington Treaty, which is reinforced by the mandatory article. Such is the British Government’s interpretation of the situation, but it is understood that the British consider that they and other Governments have not heard anything sufficiently serious to justify any action being taken.