London, Feb. 15.
France has proposed to Britain the opening of general talks to coordinate Anglo-French defence plans in the Far East, Near East and the Mediterranean.
Diplomatic circles here regarded the proposal one of the immediate effects of the Japanese occupation of Heinan Island, threatening the safety of French Indo-China, and impending Italian demands against France which may throw Europe into another crisis.
French official quarters were under_ stood'to have been influenced by reports that Japan already is fortifying Hainan Island to the extent of harbour dredging and construction of airports.
Britain and France probably will approach the United States for American ce-operation if the Franco-British talks are successful—United Press.
I believe I speak the minds of the inarticulate millions when I say thst wherever the frontiers of this country may be, we want to be adequately prepared for war," he declared.
The rate at which the United States Army constructs the 5,500 planes authorized in the defence bill depends on the trend of world affairs, Mr. Rayburn said, adding the ominous note that "it may be necessary to construct 2,500 planes this summer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.