27 JANUARY 1939, Page 3

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The growing resentment in the United States at Japan's commercial and military policies has found both official and unofficial expression during the last week. President Roose- velt has now given his approval to the Bill, introduced into Congress on the advice of the Naval Board, recommending that the island of Guam, in the Western Pacific, should be equipped as an air and submarine base. If the proposal were carried out, Guam would provide a base for an attack on Japan both by sea and by air. President Roosevelt has, however, indicated that the Bill will be used as a diplomatic rather than a military weapon; that is, it will be used as a threat with which to induce Japan to come to an agreement with America on the issues between the two countries. The alarm and indignation expressed by Japan at the proposal make it possible that she will consent to enter into negotia- tions. The trend of American public opinion is shown also by the formation of the Committee for Non-Participa- tion in Japanese Aggression by the former Secretary of State, Mr. Henry Stimson. It aims at preventing the export of war material to Japan, and will help to strengthen the Presi- dent's hand in applying America's present policy of devis- ing ways and means of restricting the realisation of Japan's ambitions in the Far East and the Pacific. The power of popular movements of this kind in the United States can be considerable. America's unofficial boycott has already hit Japan severely.

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