WesWorld

Monday, July 7th, 1930
In an emergency authorization bill brought about by the recent incident in Maine and other similar incidents in coastal waters and on the Great Lakes, Congress authorized major increases in the Coast Guard, including a new class of cutters, as well as a large increase in smaller craft intended to intercept rum-runners in coastal waters. The bill also calls for construction of a new icebreaker for service in Alaska.

Friday, July 18th, 1930
Fleet Problem X was held this week in the waters off of Oahu involving forces from the United States, Canada, and the Philippines. The war games apparently simulated an attack on one of the islands in the Pacific Territories. The carriers Constellation and Ranger were joined by the Filipino carrier Sulu and her escorts as well as a small Canadian squadron. The battleships California, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Washington and their escorts also took part in the exercise. The airship Los Angeles, operating from Ewa Field on Oahu, also took part in the exercise. So far, Navy officials have released little information on the exercise, claiming that the results are “still under study”. While in port at Pearl Harbor the Sulu received several new Martin BM torpedo bombers, part of a recent order by the Philippines.

Monday, August 4th, 1930
The State Department announced today that the nations of North America will be holding talks in the Canadian capital of Ottawa later this month to discuss a variety of issues, possibly including trade relations as well as law enforcement.

Monday, August 25th, 1930
The United States, Canada, and Mexico have announced that they have reached agreement on a multinational treaty on trade and cooperation. The North American Regional Cooperative Treaty calls for cooperation on the Mexican Canal project and associated infrastructure in Mexico, as well as recognition of Canadian sovereignty over territory in the Arctic as well as multinational cooperation in exploration of possible trade routes in the region. It is also reported to provide for the mutual exchange of technology, especially in the aviation field. Tariffs between the three countries will also be reduced and they will make efforts to cooperate more effectively in law enforcement throughout the continent.

Tuesday, August 26th, 1930
Reaction to the announcement yesterday of the North American Regional Cooperative Treaty has been decidedly mixed in Congress. While many have praised the treaty as a prelude to greater cooperation across the continent, others have expressed concern that the treaty will compromise American trade secrets with its requirement that designs, especially aircraft, be mutually licensed between the three countries. Senator Smoot of Utah called it “a complete give-away of America’s technological superiority and a dire threat to national security and sovereignty” and vowed to try and block ratification, even if it meant launching a filibuster. Other Congressional Republicans and some Socialists have also expressed similar concerns. Several aviation companies argue that the licensing provisions will require them to turn over all designs, civilian and military, to Canadian and Mexican companies with no provisions for compensation. “While the government is allowed to license military designs that it has procured, it has no right to require any company to turn over proprietary information that could then be used to compete against its original designer.” said a spokesman for Boeing.

Wednesday, August 27th, 1930
The Roosevelt administration today defended the North American Regional Cooperative Treaty after vocal opposition from Congress and industry over some of its provisions. A spokesman at the State Department said “the treaty contains provisions that will ensure that United States national security is not compromised in any way and will not create competition for companies since any design licensed from another treaty nation can not be sold outside of the treaty nations. As for intellectual property concerns, the spokesman did admit that the treaty may need “clarification” before Congress votes on it, possibly next month or in October.


(sorry the exercise is not covered fully, a combination of writers block and bad eyes.)