Washington, Feb, 1.
Germany is building a Pacific naval base in the Caroline Islands with the consent of Japan, Mr. Melvin J. Maas, Republican Representative of Minnesota, told the House of Representatives Naval Affairs Committee here today.
He said information he possessed to this effect was "more than a rumour." He said the information came from a "confidential source," but cited the report as another reason for the United States to fortify Guam Island.
Mr. Maas, who is leading Republican supporter of the Administration's rearmament programme, said Japan and Germany were "in an alliance" in the Pacific and that Japan had refused to permit United States vessels to use the Japanese mandated islands, formerly the property of Germany, He said Japan had fortified these islands in violation of the agreement under which they were mandated to Japan.
The Minnesota Representative, who announced yesterday that he would introduce an amendment broadening the provisions of the current Vinson Naval Bill, said his information emphasized the need for building strong United States air and naval bases in the Pacific.
Admiral Arthur Cook, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, told the Committee that "this is the first I have heard of this information." He agreed, however, that such a base would seriously complicate United States defence nroblems—United Press.
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