BEFORE DECISION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 44, 2 December 1941, Page 5

BEFORE DECISION

EVENTS MOVING SWIFTLY. PRECAUTIONS AT SINGAPORE .JAPANESE FLEET MOVING (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, December l! Events are moving swiftly in the Far Eastern crisis which reached a new phase to-day with vital meetings in Washington, Tokio, and Canberra. Precautionary measures have been taken at British and American bases in the Pacific. In Tokio, the Japanese Prime Minister (General Tojo) told members of His Cabinet of the latest developments in the talks in Washington between Japan and the United States. The Cabinet was told that the talks were entering a critical phase. Mr Roosevelt has cut short his holiday visit to Georgia and is returning to Washington. It is unofficially stated he may confer with Mr Kurusu, Japan’s special envoy to the United States, and Admiral Nomura, the Japanese Ambassador, who are reported to have received new instructions from Tokio. Mr Roosevelt will confer with Mr Hull, the United States Secretary of State, and he may also see the Secretary of the Navy (Colonel Frank Kn6x) and the Secretary of the Army (Mr H. L. Stimson). Mr Hull will meet Admiral Nomura and Mr Kurusu at 10 a.m. to-day.

Australian Cabinet Recalled.

In Canberra, the Australian Government lias been unexpectedly recalled. This, step was taken at such short notice that some members had to fly to Canberra in a special aeroplane. The Canberra observer, for the British Broadcasting Corporation says the situation in the Far East is causing grave concern in Australia. It is officially pointed out that all depends on what Japan intends to do. There will be no war unless Japan starts it. In Hong Kong, all British troops have been recalled to their barracks and naval men have been ordered to stand by. Messages were flashed on cinema screens and instructions were posted in the streets. These measures followed two days’ of extensive army manoeuvres.

In Malay, a state of emergency has been declared. At the Singapore naval base, volunteers in the naval reserve and the Air Force have been mobilised. Guards have been placed on British Government offices and strong points and forts have been manned. It is pointed out that the declaration of a state of emergency does not signify a deterioration in. the situation in the Far East, but means a clarification of it.

Reinforcements in Burma

In Burma, officers on leave have been called back to duty. Large reinforcements of British and Indian troops have arrived in Rangoon, which is the chief port through which supplies go to Burma road. It is officially stated that the reinforcements are all well trained, and many have seen service in other theatres of war. In the Philippines, leave has been restricted and a total black-out is to be enforced at two naval bases.

A report from Manila states that a formation of the Japanese fleet with cruisers and aircraft-carriers is in the regions of the southern mandated Japanese islands, not far from British North Borneo.

Meanwhile, the Japanese newspapers suggest that Thailand will soon be at war. The Bangkok correspondent of the “Nichi Nichi” argues that Thailand is being forced into joining Britain and America, and he adds: “Thailand cannot expect to retain her neutrality for ever.” The same note is sounded by the newspaper “Asahi.” The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain said that authoritative quarters stated that Japan desires to continue the discussions in Washington for at least a fortnight. Japan Adheres to Policy. That she is not prepared, however, to abandon her southward expansion was revealed by General Risaburo Ando, addressing a rally celebrating the anniversary of Japan s formal recognition of the Nanking regime. He predicted that Japan would try to cut the Burma road and move into the Netherlands East Indies. * General Ando said that as Holland was completely occupied by the Germans, the Netherlands East Indies would be “summarily treated” as soon as Japan decided to move in that area. _ . . A message from Manila says it is authoritatively disclosed that the Buiima road soon will be defended from Japanese air attack by an all-American unit composed of American planes flown by American pilots. All the peisonnel are listed officially as members of the Chinese Air Force, though the majority are former regular members of the United States Army and Navy. The United States Consulate m Shanghai has circularised Americans in for the third time reiterating its previous advice about evacuation because of the shortage of shipping. Surprise is expressed in Tokio that the speech made by General Tojo should have been strong enough t o cause the return to Washington of Mr Roosevelt.

Comment on Japan comes from Mr Sol Bloom (chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States House of Representatives). Mr Bloom said:, “A cat may put its back up to look bigger, but it is still the same size cat.”