military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (02/07/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Wednesday, 7 February, 1940 The Munster, an Irish mail ship, strikes a mine in the Irish Sea and sinks. It is initially feared that the sinking was by an IRA bomb, in retribution for the hanging of two IRA men convicted of an earlier bombing. The US Senate approves a $20 million credit advance to Finland, while in the House, an amendment to the Sate Department Supply Bill which proposes to eliminate the salary of the Ambassador to Russia is defeated by only three votes. The Soviet freighter Kim docks at San Francisco bearing $5.6 million in gold bullion, in an effort to balance Soviet commercial accounts in the United States. Japan announces that it is preparing for "anticipated difficulties" in its economic relations with the USA, and is considering an abrogation of the 1922 Nine-Power Treaty -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "On broader lines, the childish reverence the Russian is knwn to have for anything mechanical - toys, industrial plants, armed forces, or air fleets - has proved a detriment to efficiency." - Maj. Gen. Stephen O. Fuqua, US Army, Ret.