BELLICOSE TONE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 309, 7 October 1940, Page 5

BELLICOSE TONE

ADOPTED BY JAPAN.

MOST PROVOCATIVE STATEMENT

CHALLENGE TO AMERICA.

(United Press Association—Copyright.)

LONDON, October 5.

“This is the most provocative statement ever made by a Foreign Minister,” said Senator Key Pittman, chairman of the United States Foreign Relations Committee, commenting on a statement reported to have been made by the Japanese Foreign Minister (Mr Matsuoka) in an interview' in Tokio. “If I were President I wbuld feel justified in severing diplomatic relations with Japan,” Mr Pittman added. Mr Matsuoka, according to the interview', said that Japan would be compelled to fight the United States if the United States entered the European war or insisted on the preservation of the status quo in the Pacific. “I fling this challenge to America—‘lf she blindly and stubbornly sticks to the Pacific status quo w r e will fight, for it is better to perish than to maintain the status quo,’ ” said Mr Matsuoka. ■ :

“Frankly, the Japan-Axis pact is intended to prevent the United States becoming involved in the European war. We all fear that it would then develop into a vital and disastrous conflict which W'e w'ish to avoid. This pact is an eloquent expression of Japan’s wishes, but is is a 1 peace pact, and A.T.oricans must understand it as such.”

Mt Mastuakoi added that Japan could no longer be strangled in her jo. sire to establish a new order of mutual prosperity in East Asia. He declared that Britain and America had forced the Axis into the use of force in Europe. Frank Admission. “Whether or not the European w'ar becomes a world war is purely in the hands of the United States,” said. “Americans must see clearly the spirit of the tripartite pact, which, candidly, is aimed at them. ■■ -

“Japan w'ill welcome frank and rapid diplomatic exchanges, with full understanding, but if the United States continues measures such as the tighten ing of the embargo she will only further anger Japan.”

The Japanese Foreign Office spokesman (Mr Y. Sunia) denied that Mr Matsuoka made this statement. He alleged that the report w r as a garbled version of an interview w'hich Mr Matsuoka gave to a contributor to the “Liberty Magazine.” The Japanese Prime Minister (Prince Konoye), in an interview at Kyoto, said that the question of war or peace in the Pacific depended on “whether the United States and Japan respect and understand each other’s positions. ’ ’

He added that the alliance Avitli the Axis Avas based on such mutual recognition, and the United States could have the same as a quid pro quo, but no overtures to America w-ere planned thereon. “Should the United States refuse and perist in regarding the alliance as a hostile act, there will ho no other course than Avar.” Internaitionhl Brigands. The United States Secretary of the Navy (Colonel Frank Knox) said that the Japanese-German-Italian alliance was the most serious challenge to the American mode of life in its history. The alliance Avas directed against the United States, Avkich Avas the largest obstacle in the totalitarians’ path.

Should Britain fail to stem the tide of tyranny, the international brigands would surround the United States-, whose destruction would be their greatest victory.

"Never understanding us, they suppose that our people can be brought under their iron rule,” Colonel Knox added. "Both as an American and a Navy' official, I know differently. If a fight is forced upon us, we are ready. We have never lost a war yet. . "The acquisition of ibases from Britain has moved the Atlantic Avar theatre 1000 miles eastAvard.” Colonel Knox declared that there Avere hundreds, even thousands, of saboteurs in the United States. Every shipyard, factory, arsenal, and poAvder plant must be guarded. ' A Shanghai message says that although no official general order has been issued, Americans who have approached then* authorities for guidance haA r e been recommended to evacuate women and children t Avithout delay. Regular commercial means of communication to America are hooked to capacity tAvo month's ahead as a result of the sudden rush to evacuate women and children in the last’feAV days.

REPORT DENIED.

"MADE NO SUCH REMARKS.”

(ReccLed This Day’ 12.15 p.m.)

TOKIO', October 6

Mr Matsiioka'denied'"the statements attributed to him, especially that in AA-'hich bo “flung a challenge at America.” He said it Avas unimaginable' that any person in such a responsible position as Foreign Minister could have said that. “I.made no such remarks,” he said..

NAVAL RESERVISTS CALLED UP

27,000 IN THE UNITED STATES

WASHINGTON, October 5.

The Navy Department has summoned 27,000 reservists, of Avhom 11.289 are already on duty. The total strength of reservists is 235,000.