U.S.A. In The Pacific

Is Uncle Sam Seeking New Naval Stations?

THE following article appeared on January 29, in many Australian newspapers. As it may have great politi cal significance it is reprinted in full: The London “Sunday Express” gives prominence to reports of the Singapore Conference, and affirms that one of the vital questions being discussed is that of the ceding to the United States by Britain and France of a number of islands in the Southern Pacific in return for cancella tion of part of the allied war debt.

The paper declares:—“The Govern ments of the United States, Great Britain, and France have been forced by the ag gressive policy of Japan to consider the whole question of the balance of power in the Pacific. With a view to the de fence of her interests, America has ten tatively advanced the proposal that she should be given facilities in South Pacific island groups administered by Britain, Prance, and New Zealand for es tablishing a chain of harbors and aero dromes for commercial purposes in time of peace and as bases for aeroplanes and warships in wartime. America is par ticularly anxious to acquire a footing in the Marquesas Islands.

“Significance is attached to the state ment by Mr. Carl Vinson, chairman of the Naval Committee of the House of Repre sentatives, last week, that it would be a happy solution were it possible to acquire a Pacific base strategically located with out burdening the American taxpayer while permitting foreign debtors to dis charge portion of their indebtedness.”