1927 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED STATES: The USN commissions its second aircraft carrier, USS Saratoga (CV-3) at Camden, New Jersey. Much larger than the earlier USS Langley (CV-1), the ship displaced 36,000 tons and had a flight deck almost 900 feet (274 meters) long, with an island superstructure for flight control.
1933 (THURSDAY)
SYRIA: The French and Syrian governments sign a treaty whereby France agrees to support Syria's admission into the League of Nations within four years. In return, Syria agrees to maintain an alliance with France for 25 years during which time the French will exercise extensive control over Syria's foreign relations, military, and financial affairs. The treaty does not apply to the other Syrian states and the agreement reflects the terms of the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty.
UNITED STATES: The Roosevelt administration formally recognizes the Soviet government ending a long period of estrangement. The Soviet Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Maxim Litvinov, arrived in Washington, DC on 7 November to begin negotiations. In a formal exchange of notes, the Soviets promise not to interfere in the domestic affairs of the United States, including propaganda; to extend religious freedom to Americans living in the Soviet Union; to negotiate an agreement to guarantee a fair trial for American citizens accused of crimes in the USSR; and to negotiate a settlement of mutual claims (an agreement on tsarist debts to the U.S. is never negotiated). Official recognition restores trade relations between the two countries, although the volume does not reach anticipated levels.
1936 (MONDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: In the House of Commons, Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden expresses "regrets" over steps taken by Germany saying, "On May 21, 1935, the German Chancellor stated publicly that as regards the remaining Articles of the Treaty, including those relating to international rivers, . . . the German Government `will only carry out by means of peaceable understandings such revisions as will be inevitable in the course of time.' . . . In these circumstances it is a matter of regret to His Majesty's Government that at a time when discussions were proceeding and despite the assurances given last year, the German Government would once again have abandoned procedure by negotiation in favour of unilateral action."
November 16th, 1939 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:The cost of living rose by 2.5 per cent in October.
London: Britain is in the grip of spy fever, although more than 6,000 suspected men and women have already been detained. In the first few days of the war, the entire detective force of Scotland Yard was employed rounding up suspected enemy agents and sympathisers who had been identified by the intelligence services. They have been detained for the duration of the war.
Hundreds of thousands of items which leave Britain each week by post for neutral countries are being examined and censored, mainly at Liverpool. A staff of 1,700 linguistic experts examines letters not only for what they say but also for messages in invisible ink.
GERMANY:
U-105, U-137, U-138, U-140 laid down.
U-62 launched.
FINLAND: Helsinki: Russia, seeking to protect its naval bases at Leningrad and Murmansk, from possible attack by Germany is demanding the cession of strategic Finnish territory and the lease of Finnish ports in exchange for land in the desolate swamps and forests of Karelia.
The Soviet People's Commissar of Defence, Kliment Vorosilov has already ordered the Red Army to move into attacking positions along the Finnish border. (See)
The Finns, fearful that this would merely be the prelude to a Soviet take-over of their country, are refusing. They are preparing to go to war with their giant neighbour.
ROMANIA: King Carol's offer of mediation is rejected by both sides.
CANADA: Patrol vessel HMCS Fleur de Lis commissioned. Built by Canadian Vickers Montreal, Province of Quebec.. Launched 1929, 316 tons, 164.6x21.1x11.6ft, 12kts, triple screw vessel, diesel 1800 BH, crew 6/30, 1-.303 mg. Pendant's (Z31)(A)>(J16) Custom Service 1929, RCMP 1932, RCN 1939, sold 1945 Post WW.II, sold 1945, Marine Industries, Sorel, Province of Quebec.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-43 sank SS Arlington Court in Convoy SL-7A.