Seward daily gateway., 1930-01-18
OIL LAND WITHDRAWALS

While President Hoover's recently issued executive order withdrawing areas in the vicinity of Yakatapa Fort Graham, Cold Bay and Wide Bay for use of the Navy IS consistent with the oil conservation policy enciated last fa those following the trend of inter- national events n the action something more far reaching and of equal importance with oil conservation ShOIn of its camOufage these withdrawals present no ce to the world that MT Hoover while trusting to the Lord with respect to thwartng by securing re- ductiOn in naval construction believes in keeping his powder dry.
 According to reports of the conference between Premier Ramsay Mcdonald of England and President Hoover, the British statesman returned to England with complete, frank understanding in his pocket Now read of perfect unanimity in the commission headed by Secretary Stnson and which will present MT. Hoover's disarmament program agreement be- tween the two dominant naval powers of the world
 But what will De Japans attitude? We gain small idea with todays Associated Press dispatch in which Japans spokesman stated Japan is hardly ready to accept McDOnadS idea owing to the conservative feel ing of the populance against scrappng good ships for which the citizens of Japan sWeated to pay.
 The shrewd Nipponese may be found prepared to resist radical pairing down of navles And there 1s reason. Japan has her foot in Manchurla, through which her railroad runs connecting with the dis puted Transiberan line. By stealth she has encroached until she might be said dominate this, of Chnas prolific provinces, rich in minerals and metals, all of which play an important part in Japans naval ex- panson Will she be willing to relnqulsh her grip along with curtailment of her navy?
 This is one of the knotty points looming in the coming naval conference
 Should Japan find herself unable to agree with the two great powers, and the conference comes to naught save with respect to the United States and Great Britain Japan still looms as potential danger
 In the event of trouble with the United States Alaska would be her first objective Here she would find the most important element in maintaining her fleets away from home-o1 for fuel
 It will be observed that the withdrawn areas are small but are So situated to supply splendid strat- egic points in meeting Japans assault should she de eide to take the chance
 The regions at Cold Bay and Wide Bay command the halfway point between Japan and the contnenta United States Port Graham is natural naval oase Once fortified they afford the arm of pmcers Wtn the other arm stretching across the HaWaan lsands-
 Thus we have situation analogous to that ot 192O-24, when the Navy Department was engaged ID developing coal at Chickaoon-a silent hint to Japan that she will be expected to abandon any ambitions that rest upon the maintenance of strong navy
 Satisfaction is felt throughout the Railroad Belt, which is not effected by the withdrawal order NoW ' that greater restrictions have been placed upon dr1- ing of the public domain in the United States, the out look for development of oil along The Alaska Railroad looms brighter It the only region left to adventurous capital and should prove magnet to attract develop ment in the region.