• start of search for coalition against Russia
  

• had been advocate of peace and trade with the U.S.
  
• FDR orders ashes returned to Japan on 10,000 ton cruiser Astoria
  

Mar. 7 - Navy Minister Yonai announces continued naval expansion program

• Yonai is mentor of Yamamoto and successor to militant Nagano who led Japan out of the 1935 London Naval Conference and began construction of the 2 giant battleships "Yamato" and "Musashi" that exceeded the 35,000-ton capital ship limit.
  These ships were first publicized by Hector Bywater in the London Daily Telegraph Nov. 22, 1937, and Hanson Baldwin in the NY Times Dec. 12, 1937, and caused England and the U.S. to start to build 40,000+ ton battleships (Brit. "Lion" class and US "Iowa" class)

Mar. 29 - William Borah opposes U.S. fortification of Guam

• as "decoration of a useless sand dune"
  

Mar. 31 - Yonai announces occupation of Hainan and Spratly Islands
Apr. 13 - USS "Astoria" arrives in Japan

• under Capt. Richmond Kelly "Turn-to" Turner
  
• tries to photograph Yamato, Musashi
  
• FDR orders special fleet maneuvers at Hawaii
  

• tries to photograph Yokosuka drydock
  
• visits "islands of mystery" Saipan, Rota
  

• "Saito must have turned in his urn" (Fred. Marks)
  

• Brit. follow policy of appeasement as in Europe
  

• but US Ambass. Joseph Grew argues economic sanctions will not work
  

• Perrett argues this marks the beginning of the war
  

• Japan to re-open Yangtze if U.S. signs new trade treaty - FDR said no