Evening star., 1936-02-11
Declares State Department
Is Not Responsible for
Pittman Speech.
LARGER ARMY AND NAVY
BACKERS PRESS PLANS
Ambassador Saito Says Country
Has No Intention of Closing
Doors to u. S.
BACKGROUND

licly predicted japanese aggression
against Philippines and eventual
iDar between United States and
Japan.
Tpo days later Ambassador Saito
fetuted predictions. criticized Sem
dtor and reported Uhole incident to
his government.
Yesterday Senator Pittman re-
fe,Ded verbal attack on Oriental
nation, again drew ans,Der from
Ambassador.
BY the Associated Press.
The State Department pointedly
held aloof today from anti-Japanese
criticism in a Congress where advo-
Gates of a stronger Army and Navy
are demanding quick action to bolster
national defenses.
Soon after Senator Pittman, Demo-
crat, of Nevada had charged, and
japanese spokesmen had denied, that
Japan's policy is threat to Amer
ican interests, Secretary Hull stressed
that his department was not respons1-
bic for the Pittman speech, IN which
the chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee advocated in
creased naval anc air strength.
There has been, as regards his
speech, no consultation or collabora-
ton between him and me- Hull told
inquiring newspaper men.
Vote Sought by Tonight.
Meanwhile House hackers of
peace-time record appropriation for
the Army sought to obtain vote by
tonight. The measure, providing total
military expenditures of 1888, ,7S2 ,232,
including funds to strengthen Western
defenses, was introduced yesterday.
It was not, however, accompanied by
criticism of any nation.
Representative Blanton, Democrat.
Of Texas, who recently returned from
q visit to Hawaii, said in opening
debate on the bill:
II want to see enough 16-inch guns
on our coast and in our possessions
90 that If one Of these S50,000,000
modern battleships comes within 81
miles of our coast with design against
us we could blow it out Of the sea-
and that's what we expect to do.
why, we'll never have to shoot one.
The mere knowledge by other nations
that we have those guns will mean
we won't have to use them"
I'VE are going to see to 1t" Blanton
shouted at another point, that we
are adequately prepared, not only on
the West Coast, but at the Panama
Canal and in Hawaii The (Appro-
priations) committee is sympathet-
ically alive to the situation"
Other Developments.
Other developments bearing on
peace and military affairs:
/. Several House members, includ-
ing Representatives Sauthoff, Progress
sive, of Wisconsin; Ludlow, Democrat,
OF Indiana and Maverick, Democrat,
Of Texas, expressed disappointment
that congressional leaders apparently
had scrapped plans for permanent
neutrality legislation now because Of
legislative deaolocks. Maverick, speak
ing in New York, said the admins
tration was "in cowardly retreat" in
the face of the neutrality bills critics.
2. The Senate Munitions Committee
drew forth testimony that the Navy
League, advocate of a larger Navy,
numbered steel manufacturers in its
membership and sought contributions
from ship owners.
8. The United States Fleet was at
sea of the California coast beginning
battle exercises clothed in greater
secrecy than any such movements in
the past.
4. At London, authoritative sources
said 1t was probable that the Four
power Naval Conference would agree
on a 35,000-ton maximum for battle
ships. The United States had insisted
on this maximum, while France and
italy demanded smaller one.
Taking cognizance of Senator Pitt
mans assertion that Japan intends to
7See eANTI-JAPANESE, Page A-4.)