JAPAN’S MOVE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 248, 1 August 1941, Page 5

JAPAN’S MOVE

AXIS TECHNIQUE FOLLOWED. AN OPPORTUNIST COURSE. COMMENT IN BRITISH PRESS. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, July 31; British newspapers profess to sec little sign of the fulfilment of the hope expressed by the British Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) that “those responsible for the destinies of the Japanese Empire will act while there is yet time to realise where their present policy is leading them.” A statement by the Japanese Foreign Office that American press comment is detrimental to “opportunities for a. harmonious understanding between Japan and America now that French-Japan-ese joint defence is an accomplished fact,” is regarded as an endeavour by the third Axis partner to apply the technique, hitherto successfully exploited by Hitler, of relying upon the democracies to acquiesce in at fait accompli, thus allowing ample time for preparation for further aggression. A Vichy News Agency message from Tokio says Japan is willing to call a halt to expansion if the democracies recognise the fait accompli in IndoChina, but she will have to consider measures to avoid strangulation if encirclement in the Pacific continues, meaning if economic sanctions are aggravated by an oil embargo. The Japanese Domei News Agency says the Japanese' Prime Minister (Prince Konoye) in a broadcast address, warned Japan that she must always be prepared to meet the worst The war between Russia and Germany was bringing serious effects to Japan, and it was difficult to predict where the European strife might spread, Japan must be ready to meet any situation arising in the Far East. Therefore, the Government was mobilising all resources and manpower. Limitations on Japan. Authoritative critics in Washington believe that Japan will bo forced by her limited land and air power to adopt a waiting, opportunistic course i'n the Far East. The Japanese are heavily outnumbered by the Soviet armies in the north, and face considerable obstacles in any move southward from Indo-China. It is .believed that Japan cannot get her bases in In-do-China ready for further action southwards in less than three months.

The semi-official paper, the “Japan Times,” while insisting that Japan was fully prepared to meet any situation, emphasised the gravity of the present time. Japan’s economic policy for the next year had been planned without counting on supplies from Great Britain and the United States. The full resources of Japan, Manchukuo and the occupied parts of China would be used in the programme of self-support. The - British Ambassador in Tokio (Sir Robert Craigie) to-day bad a halfhour conference with the Japanese Foreign Minister (Admiral Toyoda). Meanwhile, five Japanese transports have docked at Saigon. A total of 15 are expected to-day. The decks are loaded with bargGS and motorboats. Members of the Japanese military mission and representatives of the Japanese community were alongside the dock to welcome the soldiers. A lone Japanese destroyer went up the river and anchored a mile from the dock. Thailand’s Attitude. Reports from Bangkok state that Japanese allegations that Britain was threatening Thailand have been effectively answered. Britaiu, said the Bangkok radio in a special broadcast, had only recently signed a non-aggres-sion pact with Thailand, and Britain had never been known to break such agreements. Relations between Britain and Thailand were now closer than ever. .

British troop movements in the Far East quite naturally were only defensive measures, the radio said.' Japan had not threatened Thailand nor had she reason to do so. If the Japanese wanted to move south there was no reason to pass across Thailand. That would involve a longer route. Japan was a peace-loving country desiring to raise the status of the Asiatic peoples and also to gain full independence for all Asiatic countries.

A message from Shanghai says a special committee, .including representatives of the Japanese Army, the Japanese Embassy and the Japanese Finance Minister’s Agency, has been established for the purpose of executing retaliatory measures against British and American interests. The committee will supervise business transactions between the Chinese and the Japanese on the one hand and foreigners on the other. From San Francisco it is reported that Customs officials stated that special permission would be granted to the Japanese liner Tatuta Mam to discharge passengers to-day. An application to discharge a cargo of 2,500,000 dollars’ worth of silk would be considered. JAPANESE ENTER SAICON. PARADE LASTS THREE HOURS. LONDON, July 31. The Saigon correspondent- of the Associated Press of Great Britain sa>s the Japanese Army formally entered Saigon in a parade taking three hours. Lieutenant-General Shojiro iida is commander. From Batavia it is reported that the Netherlands East Indies is awaiting the result of discussions in London, Washington, and Canberra before implementing its future policy towards Japan. Trade with Japan is at present at a standstill.