AXIS AND JAPAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 160, 8 July 1940, Page 8

AXIS AND JAPAN.

FAR EAST CRISIS. French And Dutch Indies In / Pawn. BRITAIN AND ARMS TRAFFIC. United' Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1 p.m.) LOXDOX, July 7. Italy and Germany arc reported to lie weighing the possibility of giving Japan special privileges in French Indo-Cliina and the Dutch East Indies, states a message from Rome. It is reported front Tokyo that the British Ambassador to Japan, Sir Kobert Craigie," is anxiously awaiting, hut has not received from London, the British Government's reply to the Japanese demand for the cessation of the arms traflic to China through Burma and Hongkong.

Although Sir Kobert has informed the "Japanese Viee-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. M. Taiii, that the delay is due to consultation, the Japanese are not impressed, and continue to attribute it to a desire on the part of Britain and the Chiang Kai-shek Government to solicit American support in order to circumvent Japan

It is stated from Shanghai tlmt tlio British Consul, "as a precautionary mcasiire," hns suspended the clearance papers of British ships scheduled to sail for Jndo-China. This decision is a result of Marshal Pot,tin's orders to the French to fire on British ships off French territory.

The Japanese Government is promulgating an ordinance, which becomes effective to-day—the third anniversary of the outbreak of hostilities in China— prohibiting the manufacture of articles and commodities which are considered to be luxuries.