Admiral Leahy indicated to the President that the first necessity in strengthening American defences was the revision of the Vinson-Trammel Act and authority for additional naval construction, He recommended lcaving. the details alfa types of the new warships 10 be decided lat "Mr. Hull meanwhile was under-slood' to have advised the construc tion of two new battleships in addi-to the two now under construc tion and the two provided for in the 1939 budget estimates. He was represented as believing that the construction of new warships would be the most effective method of impressing Japan with the fact that the United States is determined to main tain her rights and interests in the Orient even if she is forced to Aght for them, In addition to the huge warplane construction plans also under con sideration, the Army and Navy both 'Mr. Edison reported to Mr, 'Bult his approval of an enlarged" naval construction programme' as America's answer to, worldwide armament and comprehensive nature and will afford a further opportunity studying" the particular problems affecting each Service.
The exercise, however, as is inevi~ table in such cases, Will contain artifelal elements, which will prevent any precise " conclusions from cing drawn, The Commander-in-Chief of the Rast" Indies Station, Vice-Admiral the Hon, Sir Alexander Ramsay. son-in-law of the Duke of Connausht will be in command of the naval forces.
The military forces will be under the command. of Major-General Wil-Mam George Dobbie, General Ofeer commanding Malaya, The units of the Royal Air Force in the defending force will be under the Immediate command of the Air Vice-Marshal A.W. Tedder, Air Ofer Commanding the Royal Air Force in the Far East,—Router.
Tokyo Asks for "Discretion"
Tokyo, Jan. 15.
The forthcoming visit of the United States cruisers Trenton. Mile waukee and Memphis to. Singanore For the opening of the Naval Base featured in the Japanese press to-day, The' "Yomiuri Shimbun," editorial, declares that " Janan forced to be, seriously. interested in the comnletidh of the "advance Base of the British Fleet, with Japan ar the objective."
'The journal considers that the ceremonial opening of the Base may rewarded as a "demonstration against Japan, while the presence of the American' squadron conceivably seeks (0 create the impression that Britain and America have reached fan understanding In the Pacific Ocean."
Questioning whether the United States is fully aware of the British Government's) "subtle and sinist polities," and forecasting an unfavour~ Able repercussion in the Far Eastern Situation to such, actions, " the "Yomiuri Shimbun" hopes" that Britain and, America will" consider, this point carefully and. adopt policy, of "'iseretion."—Reuter. mritaln's Answer to Japan"
New York, Jan. 14.
Declaring that the Singapore: Navat Base 1g generally regarded as "Great Britain's answer to the Japanese bid for Far Eastern supremacy," the New York Times" states to-day: -"Any agreement, express or tacit, United States and Great Britain have decided on joint action if war is Peg ud involving "America in the Sapa, C7 SNNeF one reed on either one oft 9 of them BY)" iso submitted a report of an Tt describes the forthcoming, visit investigation regarding steel prices of three Amercan cruisers to Singa-offered the Government by private pore for the opening of the Bate corporations. The report indicated sline ebvel demonsten at private companies were selling nsracen st rentnable Bren the Government sect Zor warship
YANGTZE CLOSED TO St-"zaison reported the Government capito instances of Mental bidding.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.