THE FAR EAST

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21200, 24 August 1940, Page 4

THE FAR EAST

PACIFIC STATUS QUO NO CHANGE PERMITTED MR CHURCHILL’S SPEECH COMMENT IN JAPAN (United Pre-ss Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, August 23 The Tokio newspaper Kokumin, discussing Mr Churchill’s House of Commons speech, said the Japanese Government is watching BritishAmerican plots and will not permit any change in the Pacific status quo. A British official wireless message says the statement in Mr Churchill’s speech that “various agreements had been reached (with the United States) about certain small islands in the Pacific, which had become important as air fuelling points,” seems to have given rise to some misapprehension. In authoritative quarters, it is believed the agreement referred to was that relating to Canton and Enderbury Islands, reached in 1938. On August 11, 1938, a joint communique was made by the United States and Britain that they were going to “set up a regime for the use in common” of these islands. The arrangement was made for the purpose of international aviation and communications, and each party was to have equal facilities. Notes on details of the arrangement, which were exchanged by the two Governments on March 16, 1939, provided for joint American-British official control of the islands with a special ad hoc regime.

Only civil transport companies incorporated in the United States and the Empire were to use the islands, and it was arranged that the United States should build an air base and the British Empire should have use of it. All facilities publicly foreshadowed were, of course, civil. This arrangement was for 50 years, with the possibility of continuing it indefinitely. It is thought possible that these facilities may be extended to other uses should the occasion arise.