Lively debates on foreign affairs are expected to follow the President's message, and Anglo-American contacts in the Far East are expected to come particularly under review.
New naval building, in supplement to vessels provided for in the regular Budget, is expected to be recommended by the President. Following the message, a new bill will be introduced in Congress authorizing the "The Soviet Union's naval construction plans have not yet been announced except for plans for the hilding of three battleships mounted with 16- inch guns, The tonnage of these ships has not been revealed, but it was regarded significant that 16-inch guns are larger than permitted under the London Treaty, Present plans, it was understood, call for 5,000-ton ships, but it was believed possible that they would be increased to 43,000-tons. programme, which ís expected to embrace all types of naval vessels.
The Naval Appropriations Bill is at present being considered by the Senate, It provides for the construction of two new battleships and 20 other warships im a Navy appropriation totalling $53,226,000. 16 passed by a large majority in the House of Representatives last week.
Data supplied to the House by the Navy Department) showed that on January 11, 1937, Japan had 214 vessels of all sizes ready for action compared with 199 possessed by America and 162 by Britain. The United States and Britain, it shown, had more battleships commissioned than Japan, but the Japanese were stronger in destroyers and submarines than America.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.