“PARTING OF WAYS.”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 5, 17 October 1941, Page 5

“PARTING OF WAYS.”

JAPAN AND UNITED STATES. TOKIO OFFICIAL’S STATEMENT. LONDON, October 16 The spokesman for the Japanese Navy (Captain Hideo Hiraide) said yesterday that relations between Japan and America had reached the final crossroads. “The Japanese navy,” he said, “has already completed preparations to meet the worst. Jn fact, the navy is itching for action.

“Jn spite of the Government’s strenuous efforts the' situation has now reached the. parting of the ways. The fate of our empire depends on our actions at this moment. It is certainly at such a moment that our navy should set about its final mission.”

Captain Hiraide said the Japanese navy was in excellent condition and was becoming stronger.

The Domei Agency states that the Prime Minister (Prince Konoye) yesterday had an audience with the Emperor and afterwards conferred with theiLord Privy Seal and the Cabinet Planning Board. It is understood states the agency, that grave matters were discussed.

A meeting of the Japanese Cabinet was to have been held to-day but, according to the Domei Agency, it was cancelled without explanation. Evidence of the lengths to which the Germans are piepared to go to run Japan’s business for her has reached authoritative quarters in London.' Official Gorman “orders” have been sent directly to the Chinese puppet government in Nanking warning it that the United States proposes to issue a black list—a proclaimed list —of firms dealing with Germans and Italians in the Far East.

The Germans point out that this would be prejudicial to the Nanking Government and they “suggest” various means of combating such a measure if it is put into operation. The first suggestion is the forbidding of the dissemination of the lists and instructions regarding them. The second js the suppressing of news of the damaging effect of the measure on'the black-listed firms and the third is the punishing by the withdrawal of diplomatic privileges and by other means of any such dissemination ’by diplomatic representatives. It is regarded in London as illuminating that Germany should give such instructions to Nanking without reference to the Japanese. The taking of such a drastic step when no such American measure has yet been applied to the Far East (only to South America) is seen as a mark of apprehension at the effectiveness of such measures of economic sanction.

Diplomatic reports reaching Wash* inston increasing!v mention the possibility of Japan extending to the

north or the south if Moscow falls. Meanwhile a movement is growing within the Administration for counteraction by America, influential navai circles who have favoured direct action against Japan since the outbreak of the war are now arguing that the Japanese threat which is keeping a large part of the fleet in the Pacific must be eliminated while Germany is involved in Russia.