Evening star., 1940-10-06
Knox
Continued From First Page)

them to take their places aboard the
ships Immediately. Members OF the
volunteer Reserve, consisting OF spe-
cialists and men capable OF being
trained but who have not been re-
uuired to drill, were not called out
because the need was only for
trained men.
Confer on "Axis BluSter."
Secretary Knox's address coincid-
ed with two conferences at the State
Department which were considered
of possibly unusual significance in
view of what one authority described
as "axis bluster." although they were
described officially as routine meet
ings for interchange of information.
Policy matters were discussed by
Undersecretary of State Sumner
Welles with Admiral Harold R.
Stark. Chief of Naval Operations,
and Gen. George C. Marshall, Army
Chief of Staff. Details of their talk,
said to be one of series undertaken
to maintain effective liaison among
the State, War and Navy Depart
mentS, were not revealed.
Secretary of State Hull conferred
later with Lord Lothian, the British
Ambassador, and Richard G.. Casey,
Australian Minister, carrying for
ward discussions understood to be
pointing the way particularly toward
more active Anglo-American Coop
Grafton in the Far East.
Reopening by Great Britain of the
Burma road for transport of mill
tary supplies into China, Tightening
of restrictions on exports of stra-
tegic war materials to Japan by
England and the British dominions
as we'll as the United States, joint
use of British naval bases in the
Pacific and a cruise by part of the
American fleet to Australia and New
Zealand have been mentioned as
possible steps to demonstrate such
cooperation.
Secretary Knox warned in his ad-
dress that each individual must
guard himself against defeatism"
just as every shipyard, factory,
arsenal and powder plant must be
guarded against sabotage"
Our mode of life has never been
so challenged as it is now" Mr..
Knox said. The recent military al
lance of Japan, Germany and Italy
is directed at us.
I'VE are the largest obstacle in
the path Of the totalitarian powers.
Should Great Britain fail to stem
the tide of ever-advancing tyranny
we shall find ourselves surrounded
by these international brigands
whose greatest victory would be the
destruction of the United States.
Never understanding us, they
suppose our people can be brought
under their iron rule. Both as an
American and as an official of the
Navy, I know differently. If a fight
is forced upon us we shall be ready
for them
Just back from an inspection of
the fleet, Hawaiian and West Coast
defenses, Secretary Knox asserted
that the American sea force was the
most powerful, most efficient fleet
in the world today, fully capable of
upholding the American tradition of
victory at sea which has done so
much to establish and continue us as
a free people"
In explaining yesterdays mobiliz-
alton order the Navy stated some
of the members of the Organized
Reserves of the Navy will be used to
complete compliments of combatant
vessels of the fleet, but the bulk
of the Reserve personnel will be
utilized to man the many auxiliary
vessels of all types now being ac-
quired by the Navy Department"
The Marine Reserves will be uti-
lized to augment regular Marine
Corps units and to afford increased
protection to naval activities" The
Merchant Marine Reserve was not
included in the order.
Burma Road Decision Due.
Lord Lothian said yesterday that
the British decision concerning re-
opening of the Burma road at the
expiration, October IT, of an agree
ment with Japan for its temporary
closing probably would be an
nounced this week. He declined to
say whether he had informed Sec
retary Hull of the decision in ad-
vance.
Britain's expected refusal to re-
new the agreement with Japan
would be a tangible sign of her
abandonment of attempts to con-
ciliate Japan and adoption of a firm
policy in line with this Govern
ment's long-standing opposition to
Japanese aims for new order" in
Asia.
The United States still stands on
the position set out in q note de-
livered in Toxic on December 81,
1888, declaring that we could not
admit that Japan had any right
Ito take upon itself to prescribe
what shall be the terms and condi-
tions Of . new order In the areas
not under itS sovereignty." The