Confirmation that plans for the giant battleships were being considered was obtained after the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, had told correspondents that he had received no information indicating America might abandon construction restrictions of the London Naval Treaty in order to meet the challenge of new Japanese construction. Japan has been reported to have two 45000-ton battleships under In this connection German newspapers are at pains to point out that the goal proclaimed in the Japanese manifesto, namely a military a nihilation of the enemy, is still very remote.
The "Berliner Boersenzeitung" says with much emphasis that the Japanese will have to put forward at their strength to reach their goal if they ever do attain it, not only because of the vast amount of territory that stretches away behind Hankow, but above all because of China's military resources which still considerable. General Chiang Kai-shek has been able to re-organize his central army and equip his troops, is regarded by the paper as a matter of great sig ficance, as are also reports about increasing success of the Chinese guerilla warfare in barrassing Japanese communication two other leading German papers, the "Hamburger Fremdenblatt" ai the "Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitun reply to the "Lo Temps" proposal of a joint mediation action. Both pain: Out that Germany's attitude towards the conflict has been one of neutrality and hence her mediation was confined to the mere task of arranging for an exchange of information. This hi now been made impossible throug! the severance of relations construction Congress to-day anxiously awaited President Roosevelt's forthcoming message on national defence in which he is expected to request new ships and general strengthening the nation's defences. Observe speculated whether the President Assistant Secre the would openly advocate to Con-ress' the abandonment of London Treaty naval restrictions Big Supply Bill Approved The House of Representatives Appropriations Committee already has approved a Navy Department supply bill providing 0.5. $553,266,494 fo America's sea defences during the coming fiscal year. There is a strong possibility, Congressional leaders stated, that the House committee figure mig! raised several hundred million additional dollars in the supplementary estimates based on the President's forthcoming defence message.
While the Presidents attitude toward the construction of battleships over 40.000 tons remained uncertain, it was known that he probably will P recommend the construction of two 35,000-ton battleships in addition to the four already provided over, and a number of heavy and light cruisers, aircraft carriers and additional de-
"Pure Theory" stroyers and submarine:
The "Hamburger Fremdenblatt describes the suggestion as pwe theory. It is apparently thought, it adds, that the abortive efforts of the three collective powers Britain, France and the United to set up in Geneva and later in Brussels common front directed against Japan, are to be revived in a disguised form, it being significant, moreover, that the "Temps" does not name Italy as a fifth power
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