TROOPS MOVING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 238, 21 July 1941, Page 5

TROOPS MOVING

JAPANESE ON THE FRONTIER. GOVERNMENT ON WAR FOOTING. AMERICANS NOT OPTIMISTIC. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, July 20.

Reports from Peiping state that the Japanese are concentrating there for transport to Manchukuo or Inner Mongolia. The majority of these troops liave been withdrawn from the Shansi Province in China.

Reports from Shanghai state that troop trains are already rushing Japanese' forces to Kalgan, in Inner Mongolia. It is suggested that the Japanese are strengthening their forces along the Russian Far Eastern frontiers.

The Prime Minister (Prince Konoye) has announced that the Government will function on a war footing. Japan’s policy for coping with the international situation had already been fixed, and it now remained for them to put it iuto practice with decision and speed. A Tokio message quotes the “Japan Times-Advertiser” as saying that ‘‘a Roosevelt wall” was being built and strengthened about Japan’s eastern front, which threatened the safety of the Japanese Empire. The time for Japan to take forceful measures in her own interests was now, before the throttling circle became too strong and dangerous. The Fundamental Problems. The newspaper “Kokumin” says that the fundamental problems are the Siberian question and the American encirclement of Japan, Future foreign policy would be destroy third-Power machinations against Japan’s new order in. Asia. Observers in "Washington believe that the new Japanese Cabinet offers scant hope of improved relations with Britain and the United States, or of any lessening of the tension in the Pacific. A New York message says that speaking at San Francisco the British Ambassador to the United States (discount Halifax) said that neither in the British Commonwealth of Nations nor in America was there the slightest desire to pick a quarrel with Japan, provided J apan had. due regard for the rights of oilier interested Powers. He saw. no reason why any difficulties need arise, and load to a clash, but no ono should make the mistake of thinking that, under pressure, Britain would allow her legitimate, rights sinu interests to bo ignored and set aside. A message from -Batavia says that authoritative opinion there holds the view that Japan will not attack Russia, hut penetration of Indo-China, peacefully or otherwise, can he expected at any moment, I urther laigo reinforcements of RoyaJ. Air Force airmen have arrived, at Singapore from England. It is reported in Batavia from Tokio that the Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister, Mr Ghuichi Ohaslii lias resigned and that Mr K. Honda, Ambassador to Nanking, has also resigned. It is believed that they have resigned in sympathy with Mr Matsuoka. “ watler Bird” Cabinet. A Chungking message quotes a spokesman for the Uhinese Government Foreign Office as- saying that Prince Konoye formed a “water bird” cabinet, meaning a calm surface concealing great activity underneath. In spite of its conservative appearance the new Cabinet of Japan would he certain to move soon, either northward or southward. „ > Vernacular newspapers in Tokio predict a long life for the new Cabinet with reorganisation and stabilisation ot the internal political scene. Since its fundamental policy is unchanged, the Government is not to issue a platform statement. Hovjfiver, it is expected to clarify its policy to the press after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The newspaper ‘Asahi” says that Mr Toypda in an interview defined his fundamental policy as the settlement of the “China affair.” Japan’s established national policy remained immovable and immutable. However, it was his opinion that it might be necessary to take a free view of diplomacy to make it suit the day-to-day international situation. ( Japanese designs on 1 French JndoChina have been discussed by a representative of Reuter’s Agency in Singapore. The acceptance of Japanese demands has been brought to bear on Vichy and not on the Indo-Chinese (Government.

Singapore’s attitude to Far Eastern developments has been defined by a high authority, who stated: “We arc ready for anything that comes. That is enough.”