The Pittsburgh Press (May 7, 1941)
CANAL TO BE CLOSED? NOT LIKELY, BUT MAYBE
Tokyo, May 7 (UP) –
The usually well-informed newspaper Nichi Nichi said today it had received a report that an Osaka shipping firm had been advised from San Francisco that the United States would close the Panama Canal within 10 days.
Plans are to close the canal to all but limited traffic for an indefinite period, the newspaper said, adding that, if the plan is carried out, 10 Japanese steamers remaining in waters east of Panama will be compelled to return to Japan via Cape Town.
The newspaper Hochi published a similar report attributed to New York advices via Shanghai and added that the precautions were decided upon for fear of an attack by German submarines.
Closing of the Canal to Japanese shipping would be a severe blow to Japanese steamship lines operating to the east coast of South America, it was pointed out.
Washington, May 7 (UP) –
Officials refused to comment today on reports published in Tokyo that the United States planned to close the Panama Canal.
Their attitude privately was that the reports did not merit comment or denial.
It was recalled that similar reports have circulated in the past and have been shown erroneous by the passing of time.