The sudden transfer of the United States Fleet to the Pacific coast was at least partially the result of American intelligence reports that the international situation may take a new turn and involve possible developments in the Far East which would threaten vital interests of the United States, the United Press learned today.
Official quarters said that the intelligence reports suggested the possibility that any new military development in Europe might be coupled with action by Japan in the East Indies which not only would endanger American sources of vital supplies, but would seriously affect the safety of the Philippines.
Naval quarters said they did not believe any units of the Fleet would proceed beyond the Pacific coast, n of a few and other scattered craft normally based at Hawaii Foreign diplomats here believed that the transfer was linked closely with the President's appeal to Chancellor Adolf Hitler. The significance and time element of the two events were believed to have been intended as a warning to governments contemplating further aggression.
Government circles doubt that transfer of the Fleet alone to the west coast would deter Japan's con-plated expansion in the event of a European war, since the Japanese occupied Manchuria and China while the Fleet was in the Pacific. he went on.
Wtaly had refused to send Italian troops when King Zog asked for them because of the excellent relations which existed between Rome and Belgrade. The adventure, he said would have been absurd. Only a few malcontents resisted the Italians when they landed, and only a few foreigners criticised what was in fact a superb military operation, he declared.
Count Ciano denied reports that Durazzo, Valona and other towns were bombed. He then proceeded to attack Democratic Powers and was frequently interrupted by cheering.
Count Ciano said that any attempt to upset the llalian-Albanian union would be met by action of both countries. The Rome-Berlin Axis would continue 4o function perfectly, and it would remain the basis of Italian foreign policy, he declared.
The presence of Italians in Albanta, he said, did not mean the slightest threat fo Yugoslavia.
Count Ciano agreed with the remarks of Mr. Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, about maintenance of the Anglo-Italian Pact, and said that nothing that had happened could justify any alteration in the Pact, "For our part" he declared, "we attribute great value to the agreements concluded April between us and Englan Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.