Evening star., 1939-03-06
Guam in the Senate

Guam in the Senate
Hearings began today before the
Senate Naval Affairs Committee on
the proposition to undertake certain
harbor improvement work at Guam,
at cost of $5,OOO,OO0. Senator Walsh
and his committee colleagues opened
proceedings by having Admiral
Leahy, chief of naval operations, dis
cuss the desirability OF carrying out
the project which was rejected by
the House OF Representatives last
month.
The Star considers that the re-
fusal of the lower branch of Congress
to make the initial appropriation for
harbor improvements at Guam was
blow at defense. The Senate now
has opportunity to repair that
blunder. With view to supplement-
ing public information on the Guam
subject, 1t is useful to point out cer-
tain pertinently outstanding aspects
OF it.
/. Guam is United States posses
sion bound by no international treaty
that in any way prohibits either the
proposed harbor works, or eventual
fortif1cation, if desired. The Wash
ington treaty, which tied this coun-
try's hands respecting Notifications
In mid-Pacif1c, expired on December
81, 1886.
2. The pending plan provides for
20 Notifications. 1t contemplates
only harbor clearance and correlated
improvements in order that patrol
and commercial planes may land
safely.
8. If fortified, Guam would neu-
tralize the Japanese island man.
dates, the most eastward OF which is
1000 miles from Honolulu, and their
most advanced operating base for
submarines. It has not been fully
realized in this country that. regard
less Of the Versailles treaty govern
Ing mandates, Japan, on the islands
she administers, has been clearing
harbors, putting in oil tanks and
shore facilities for patrol planes and
submarine operations which could
be directed against Hawaii and our
Pacific Coast
4. The Navy knows no more than
anybody else in the United States
what will happen to the Philippines
In 1946. What the Navy does know
is that If an Asiatic fleet is main
tanned in the Far East, there must be
an American-owned home port for it.
That seems to be one more excellent
reason for doing something about
Guam.
S. Guam has one harbor, Apra, now
full Of coral heads. Some congress
sional opinion to the contrary, the
Island lends itself to fortif1cation be-
cause Of its high, rocky hills and
dangerous open coast. Mountains
average 1000 to 1,400 feet. Guam is
$500 miles from Honolulu, about
$500 from Manila, and 1900 from
Japan.
6. Guam is declared by naval ex-
perts to be the most important stra-
tegic position in the western Pacific.
No Asiatic fleet would ever move in
our direction without capturing it.
The island can be adequately forti-
fled for $4,000, 0,00O-$25, 100000 less
than the cost of a single 35,O00-to
super-modern battleship. Any en-
emy fleet that tried to take Guam
would then be in the open for de-
cisive conflict with the United States
Fleet. incidentally, Guam protects
our lines of communication for stra-
tegic war materials from the East
Indies, notably oil.
7. Since the Guam proposal be-
came current in Congress, the Japa-
nese have occupied Hainan, thus
cutting the Hong Kong Singapore
line 1900 miles from Singapore, 300
miles from Hong Kong and $40 miles
from Manila.
8. The Hepburn Naval Base Board,
after profound study, urged Congress
to convert Guam into a rampant in
the western Pacific. Neither House
nor Senate, in The Stars opinion,
should be swerved from giving the
fullest consideration to the recon-
mendations of naval officers who are
inspired by no motive except the
sound dictates of American national
defense. A properly protected Guam
would be in no sense an aggressive
gesture toward Japan or any other