THE FAR EAST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 112, 21 February 1941, Page 5

THE FAR EAST

NEW ZEALANDERS IN SINGAPORE STRENGTHENING OF DEFENCES. JAPANESE SEE NEEDLESS ALARM (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, February 19. Agency messages from Singapore state that Singapore is rapidly being transformed into a military powerhouse from which British power can ho directed wherever danger threatens. Famous British battalions of war-seasoned troops, and large numbers of Australians and Now Zealanders have arrived to discourage, or, if necessary, beat off any attack in tho Far East. All parts of the Empire are now represented in the forces gathered there. ( The arrival of the large contingent of Australians is particularly welcomed as a sign that Britain is determined to protect her possessions in tho Far East. All are volunteers and all their guns and equipment have been made in Australia. The troops, on landing in Malaya, were welcomed by the GovernorGeneral' of the Straits Settlement (Sir Shenton Thomas), General Gordon Bennett, General Officer Commanding the Australians, and Lieutenant-General L. ’W- Bond, • General •Officer -Commanding in Malaya. . , i •*' ' ' ■ ' The Commandcr-in-Chiof in the Far East (Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Broolce-Popham) said that (Singapore and Malaya had not been strengthened at the expense of Burma and Hong Kong, hut rather knitted more strongly with the whole Far Eastern defence scheme. A Japanese Government spokesman in Tokio described the landing of Australians in Singapore as “another British demonstration” designed to create an impression in the Far East that the situation is very critical. He said the British were needlessly and excessively nervous, whereas the. situation, as Mr Ishii, of the Japanese Information Bureau, pointed out on Tuesday, actually does not warrant alarm. “Japan has done nothing to receive warnings from any Power,” he said. “Our policies, including our policy in the southwards region, are entirely peaceful.” Japanese Comment. A Japanese spokesman in. Shanghai declared that Britain’s moves in Singapore were part of a British-American plan, to strangle Japan. The plan would be countered with appropriate measures , The spokesman did not amplify his statement beyond hinting that Japan intended to speed up the mediation in the dispute between Thailand and Indo-China. Another Japanese spokesman in China declared that the landing of the Australian troops was a, belligerent action which was possibly aimed at affecting the peace negotiations between Thailand and French Indo-China with a view to influencing Thailand against the Japanese. Thai sources announced some timo ago that they were accepting Japanese mediation, hut were not co-operating. It is officially denied in Bangkok that Imperial forces in Malaya were threatening Thailand. Tho new Japanese Ambassador to the United States (Admiral Nomura) said in an interview that he believed Japan and the United States could avoid war if the United States did not take the initiative in fighting. Since his arrival in the United States he had found the atmosphere worse than he had expected, but he. did not believe it was as had as represented by the press. He claimed that Japan was merely seeking peaceful economic expansion and had no intention of seizing territories. Mr Eden’s Statement. Answering a question in the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary (Mr It. A. Eden) said that there had been increased tension in the Far East over certain events, notably over the dispute between Indo-China and Thailand. A Japanese official spokesman had made a statement to the press yesterday which no doubt had come to the attention of members. vHe had received, Mr Eden added, from the Japanese Foreign Minister l .(Mr Matsuoka) a special message in a curious memorandum, on the same general lines as the statement referred to. The terms of these communications •were at present receiving consideration. It is authoritatively stated in London that the Japanese offer of mediation showed little knowledge of the conditions which Japan’s Axis partners have produced in Europe. It also took no account of the determination of the Tlritifsh. oflien expressed bv Mr •Churchill, to fight compromise fo rtho defeat of Hitlerism. “The Times” says. Japanese assurances must-necessarily be interpreted in the light of Japanese actions, which nobody is regarding as reassuring. Tho main cause of uneasiness in the Far East is tho Throe Power Pact which is everywhere construed as .a threat against the United States if she persisted in helping Britain. Japanese actions in Thailand and Indo-China and the pressure which Japan is obviously using against; the Dutch Indies, has intensified tho uneasiness. “REPORTS GROUNDLESS." STATEMENT TO AUSTRALIAN. (Received This Dav, 11.15 a.m.) TOKIO, February 20. The Vice-Foreign Minister (Mr Ohayslii) informed Mr J. G. Latham (Australian representative in Japan) that reports of a Far Eastern crisis were groundless. It is reported that ho also urged Australian collaboration not to aggravate the situation.