Japanese invaded the Phoenix Islands according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 3 January 1942

An item reported that the Japanese invaded the Phoenix Islands presumably Canton Island (position 3.00 south 171.40 north). This could however not be confirmed.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 24 dated 3 January 1942 

Communication lines between Australia and the USA threatened according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 27 December 1941

An item referred to M/A London reporting that the Japanese had one division in the Marshall Islands available possible to operate against the Gilbert, Phoenix and Fiji Islands and to severe the direct communication lines between Australia and the USA.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 17 dated 27 December 1941.

South Pacific Ocean atoll island Cantoon suitable as flying boat base according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1938 no. 6

Boeing 314 Atlantic Clipper

An item referred to the U.S.R. dated 1 September 1938 reporting that England and the USA agreed how to handle with the small islands Canton and Enderby part of the Phoenix Group. The island Canton (1) had a splendid lagoon suitable to be used as base for flying boats.

Note
1. The atoll island Kanton Island also known as Canton Island, Abariringa Island, Mary Island, Mary Balcout’s Island and Swallow Island, Phoenix Islands in the Republic of Kiribati. The United Kingdom claimed her since March 1937 as part of the Gilbert and Elice Islands Colony but in June 1937 the USA claimed the island. On 6 April 1939 was an agreement signed for an joint control as the Canton and Enderbury Islands condominium. Pan American World Airways started in 12 July 1940 with her New Zealand flying boats service using the Boeing 314 Clipper.