HIGHLIGHTS from THE CABLES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1940, Page 7

HIGHLIGHTS from THE CABLES

WAR IN THE AIR HAS NOT BEGUN.

•"PHE announcement by a high official * in London that the war in the air has not begun .was made at the right time, for there has been a growing tendency in this country, and probabiv to a lesser degree in Britain, to regard the undoubtedly memorable exploits of the Royal Air Force with complaisance. Nothing could lie more damaging to the Allied cause than for people on the Home Front to begin under-estimating the men and machines at the enemy's disposal. As it happens, the Royal Air Force has far outdistanced its adversary in reconnaissance achievements, and the great flight over Vienna and Prague at the end of last week further strengthened our confidence in the ability of our Hying men. But Germany has good pilots and good 'planes, and though they would undoubtedly sutler heavy losses in a mass raid, some would get through. That fact must be kept constantly in mind.

At the same time the Royal Air I'ore •, thanks to the way the first months of

" BEWARE THE IDES OF JANUARY."

lAPAX should be warned of the J Ides of January," said the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate, Mr. Key Pittman, early last November. Unless Japan s relations with the United States improved before January 2(i. date of expiry of the commercial'treaty lietween the two countries, he said, " Congress Wo 'ild undoubtedly place an einluirsio on exports to Japan. Only ten days remain until the fateful arrives, and it now appears that trade relations between the two countries will undergo a big change, for a deadlock has been reported in the negotiations. If there is a breakdown, it will not be for want of tiding by the Japanese to patch things up. . °

Ever since Key Pittman gave his warning, the saner elements in the Japanese Government have been endeavouring to come to terms with the United States. Early last December the Japanese Foreign Minister presented to the United States Ambassador a formula for settlement of outstanding questions, and promised compensation for damage done to American interests in China. He also gave an undertaking to avoid future damage, but stated that Japan was not prepared to go as far as to agree to an "open door" for America in China. An optimistic Japanese ° r^. lgn Office spokesman confidently predicted last month that the United

the war have gone, has been able to amass information about the enemy machines and defences that is of vitrl importance both to the living service and to the army in France. A very gond idea of the strength and weakness of the principal types of Nazi 'planes ha# been formed, and not the least whs the discovery mentioned by the official in his statement that there is now litti-? chance of forcing the enemy down by puncturing his petrol tanks. No dou'ti the Royal Air Force is busy 011 soiii!? similar self-sealing device. Most important factor of all lias been the time given to the men in the air and thos<> 011 the ground to perfect their co-ordinat-ing machinery, and place themselves in the best possible position to repel tinbig offensive when it comcs. As the Itifih official said, those in commanc <•!' tlio defences of Britain are confident that tJiey can break up Hitler's acr:;.l armada when it flics over, but he uncareful to remind us that there niu-i be some damage to industrial plant an:l some loss of civilian life. That, unfui tunatcly, is inevitable.

States would reply before Christmas to tlie Japanese notice of intention to reopen the Yangtse. Some commentators believed that tills notice was based on a genuine Japanese desire to restore trade and show that their previous pro mises were not empty words; otlicr<. recalling previous promises made by tinJapanese Cabinet and later „ over rule 1 by the radical Army heads, contiiiii.-.i to lie pessimistic regarding prosjtects ■ settlement. One thing this notice di<l reveal, however, and that was tii.> potency of the United States trad.weapon, for it was known that the A rim opposed the move. It was said that Abe's Cabinet took its life in its han,!in making the promise. On Sunday last Abe resigned.

Despite other overtures, and a Japanese announcement indicating bctt.-i understanding between the nations afh < talks in Tokyo recently, the officii. United States attitude has remaiuvM stiff, largely, as Key Pittman sa:i! because there has been no diminution <>> Japanese violation of CTnited Sta:.~ rights in China. Mr. Pittman said :;<• would ask for an embargo on w«r materials for Japan, and then a forni r Secretarv of State, Mr. H. L. Stiinso:i. strongly advocated a similar policy la-i week. All of which seems to indica" < that Tokyo will have to perform eoiiic extraordinary diplomatic convolutions : the near future if Japan is to retail, the Lnited States as a market to suiii>\ materials. '