Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, June 13 – 19, 1940

June 13, 1940: As France faces collapse in war with Germany, Japan applies pressure to French authorities in Indochina, warning them against providing aid to beleaguered Chinese government

June 14, 1940: US Secretary of State Cordell Hull condemns Japanese aerial attacks on Chinese wartime capital of Chongqing

June 15, 1940: US President Franklin D. Roosevelt approves Act of Congress to increase naval air force to up to 10,000 planes

June 16, 1940: China denies Japanese claim of victory at Yangtze city of Yichang, stating fighting is still taking place

June 17, 1940: US Chief of Naval Operations Harold Stark asks Congress for four billion dollars to increase combat fleet by 70 percent, adding 257 ships

June 18, 1940: US House of Representatives unanimously approves 8.6-billion-dollar naval expansion program with emphasis on aircraft carriers. Photo source: National Archives

June 19, 1940: US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt kick off drive to collect money for medical supplies to war-torn China

Categories: War

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