Evening star., 1943-02-11
War Aims in the Pacific

A postwar problem which, to the
United States, is of vital Importance
has been squarely raised by Secre-
tary of the Navy Frank Knox. During
his testimony before the House For
eign Affairs Committee studying ex-
tension Of the lend-lease program, he
| emphasized the necessity for future
| American control over key islands in
| the Pacific Ocean to prevent Japan
| from entering on another war of
aggression" The Secretary argued
that chain of aerial and naval bases
| stretching like steppingstones across
the Pacific was needed to preserve
peace in that part of the world. I'VE
must disarm Japan on the sea after
| the war. To keep her diSarmed for a
| long time afterwards, we must have
| the bases from which to operate"
Mr.. Knox did not specify the terri
tories he had in mind, but a glance
at the map indicates that most of
japan's present outlying possessions
in the Pacific would be included.
Japan'S aggressive power in the Pa
clflc rests upon her requirement of
the Caroline, Mariana and Marshall
Islands after the First World War.
Those former German colonies were
handed over to her as mandate of
the League of Nations with the
understanding that they were to
remain unfortifled. But Japan vio-
lated her pledge, and today this
lsland-block, planted squarely in
mid-Paciflc and stretching roughly
5000 miles east and west by 1000
miles north and south, is multiple
Gibraltar bristling with bases from
which fleets, air squadrons, and expe-
dictionary forces can sally forth to
menace everything from Hawaii to
Australia and all the lands between.
The reduction of those island strong
holds will be prodigious undertak-
ing. Once wrested from the japanese
grasp, they must never be returned
to her.
disarmed, she should also be deprived
of the Bonin group which lies about
| midway between the japanese home
| land and the inundated islands Sit
uated less than 900 miles south of
Toxic and Yokohama, the Bonins
would be within easy bomber range
Of the centers Of japanese industry,
thus effectively ensuring compliance
with the terms of any disarmament
treaty that defeated Japan might
be compelled to sign.
Whether such pledges for Japan's
good behavior should be entrusted to
the United States alone or to some
future association Of nations is nat
urally very moot point. But, what
ever international institutions may
arise after the war, it is obvious that
America will have to take a leading
part in maintaining peace in the Pa
ciflc. 1t may. indeed, be desirable
that American air and naval bases
should be retained in some Of the
islands under British and French
sovereignty, much as we have ac-
quired long-term leases for such
bases in the British West Indies Mr..
Knox may have had this in mind
when he suggested that negotiations
for tightly interlaced system Of
naval and air bases clear across the
Pacific be started now with our Allies
in the friendly atmosphere of the
lend-lease program, while we still
have something to offer them"
Mr.. Knox has certainly opened a
wide field for discussion. To some
persons, his proposal may sound
academic, with Japan's aggressive
power still unbroken Yet the prob
! lem is bound to arise the moment her
| predatory empire is shattered, and
| its collapse might conceivably be
| rapid. Some preliminary understand
ing on the disposition of Japan's
colonies offers constructive posi-
| bilities.