Evening star., 1941-08-05
(Tert OF Notes on Page A-6.)


(TeTt Of Notes on Page A-6.)
By the Associated Press.
The United States disclosed the
arrival of two heavy cruisers in
Australian waters today in a move
closely following formal pledge Of
full economic assistance to Soviet
Russia which may be borne across
the Pacific in American ships.
The Navy announced that the
two cruisers-the Northampton and
the Salt Lake City-already had ar
rived at Brisbane, Australia. on
what. was described as a training
cruise.
This followed the dispatch OF
formidable squadron of warships to
Australia and New Zealand last
March during earlier tension in
American-Japanese relations.
Britain Also Takes Action.
That also was called a training
cruise, but the Navy said the ships
might be kept in South Pacific
waters indefinitely. The squadron
which visited Australia in March
consisted of two cruisers and five
destroyers and smaller force Of
destroyers called at New Zealand.
Today's announcement stated
merely that the Northampton and
Salt Lake City would refuel at the
Australian port and give their crews
a recreational period of few days"
there. The ships are commanded by
Rear Admiral S. A. Taffinder.
The announcement followed re-
ports that Britain also was strength
enine ats naval forces in the Pacific
as an apparent consequence OF
Japans move into French Indo-
China and indications that similar
action might be aimed against bor-
dering Thailand.
The American decision to supply
"all economic assistance practicable"
10 Soviet Russia also held fresh po-
tential complications with Japan.
whose rela tions with Russia were
subjected to new uncertainty today.
Russo. Jap Clash Revealed.
Despite the Russo-Japanese "neu-
trahty" agreement. 1t. Col. Kunio
Akiyama, of1icial spokesman for the
japanese forces in China, said at
Shanghai that a minor clash of jap
anese and Soviet border troops oc-
Cured near Manchuli about two
weeks ago.
The American assistance to Rus
sia would be in military supplies and
implements of defense. even though
the Japanese controlled press in re-
cent weeks has been printing veiled
warnings against the routing OF such
shipments across the Pacific to the
Russian port of Vladivostok.
Indications that such route
would be used were seen in the
State Departments announcement
that favorable consideration was
being given Russian requests for the
extension of available American
shipping facilities to expedite the
shipments.
(The Neutrality Act combat zone
blocks OF Soviet European ports to
American shipping)
The formal undertaking to supply
economic aid was set forth last
night in an exchange of diplomatic
notes, connected with the renewal
OF the annual Russo American trade
agreement.
In its note the United States
disclosed for the first time it already
was implementing earlier informal
promises of assistance by:
/. Giving urgent Soviet orders
priority assistance on the
principles applicable to the orders
of countries struggling against
aggression"
2. Granting unlimited licenses for
the export of a wide variety of sup
plies needed for the strengthening
of the defense" of Russia, and
3. Exploring the possibility OF
using American ships to transport
some of the supplies.
Constantine Oumansky, the Rus
sian Ambassador, told reporters that
the understanding was ''of serious
Importance because it extends to the
Soviet Union in full your fixed policy
of giving all assistance to countries
struggling against aggression
Ofiicials emphasized that there
was no question of lease-lend aid
because Russia was able to pay for
its purchases here. The nature OF
the Soviet purchases here has been
withheld on the ground that it would
constitute military information.
Similarly. there was no ofhcial word
on whether the flow of material had
started.
The possibility Of using American
ships on the Vladivostok run raised
speculation in some diplomatic
quarters whether some OF the lease
lend aid to China might be carried
along with Russian cargoes for de-
livery to Chungking over the cara
van route from Siberia.
1t was pointed out that If Japan
makes her threatened move into
Thailand, the Burma road supply
line will be further exposed. to air
attacks. The road is now within
raiding range of Japanese Indo-
China bases.
Japanese concern over the o,les-