Evening star., 1934-04-18

Japan presented the cherry trees to
the National Capital. a gift which
has resulted in an annual bloom con-
veying pleasant thoughts of part OF
the Orient and its people"
Other parts Of the country feel also
that present plans for holding the
maneuvers in the Atlantic waters will
| aid in improving relations with the
Eastern power. Says the Nashville
TenneSseean: News that the United
States fleet is steaming down the Pa
cif1c Coast to thread its way through
the Panama Canal and take up an
eight-month stay in Atlantic waters
comes at time when relations be-
tween this country and Japan are less
strained than at any period since the
japanese invasion of Manchuria was
begun
Good will notes have been ex-
changed between Secretary of State
Hull and Foreign Minister Hirota.
Feeling between the two countries was
improved even by President Roose-
velt'S announcement some time ago
that the Navy would not remain per-
manently in the Pacific. Now Japan
finds that promise fulfilled"
However. the Columbus Evening
Dispatch thinks there is no occasion
to consider this withdrawal of our
fleet as concession to Japan. Our
fleet was in the Pacific with no
thought of Japan; but its departure
was only temporary" says the Ohio
daily. AT the end of the Summer the
Pacific feet will return to its base
ports on our Pacific Coast. 1t is we'll
to have this understood. 1t is our
Pacific Coast, and we have a right
to be there. Our Nipponese friends
VIII have to keep their nerves less
'jumpy"
AS a matter of fact, it may be diff
f1cult, owing to present world condi-
tions, TO keep rumors from flying
wherever the maSsing of our fleet may
be made, as the Daily News of Nc
keesport points out: When the fleet
was sent to the Pacific there was an
immediate outcropping of warlike
rumors. And we confidently may ex-
pect another crop when it reaches the
Atlantic. Any naval movement on a
large scale, though it may be mere
routine. as is this one, attracts the
attention of other nations. The
world has developed suspicion to the
nth degree"
Seaports on the two coasts have a
peculiar local interest in the move
ments of the feet. The Miami Daily
News takes occasion to call attention
to the advantages of Miami's newly
developed harbor: by reason of the
fact that the Miami Harbor and chan
mel soon will be dredged out to a
depth permitting the entrance of large
ships, it is not unreasonable to expect
some day that a portion of the At
lantlc fleet will berth here, II we get
sufficient aggressive representation in
washington to push our claims. With
an airship and Navy airplanes making
their base here, a logical defense plan
Tor protection of the Gulf end Of the
Panama Canal and of the Caribbean
would seem to call for some of the
Atlantic fleet also to make their head
quarters either at Miami. or possibly
at Port Everglades, when the entrance
70 That fine harbor has been i'm
proved"
From the Pacific Coast comes the
IoiIoWlng from the Long Beach Press
Telegram: "As the Nations great de-
lensive armada sails from the Pacific
Coast on cruise to Atlantic waters,
Long Beach and other harbor COM
munities feel more than a patriotic
thrill at the majestic sight. In hun
dreds Of homes wives and children,
parents and other relatives, not to
forget the sweethearts, are left be-
hind to keep the home fires burn
ing for the next eight months"