NAZI PRESSURE APPLIED TO JAPAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 282, 27 November 1940, Page 7

NAZI PRESSURE APPLIED TO JAPAN.

REPORTS FROM EAST.

Hurry Push South To Smash British Empire. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 1 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 28. It is rumoured in Shanghai that von Stahmers, Nazi Ambassador at large, is en route to the Far East to renew pressure on Tokyo for the resumption of Japan's southward thrust. Simultaneously, Germans at Chungking are reported to have intensified their efforts to persuade Chiang Kai-shek that the democracies will be unable to save the Chungking Government, for which reason Chiang should accept an honourable peace with Japan. He could then co-operate with Japan in the southward drive aimed at Singapore and the Dutch East Indies in an effort to dismember the British Empire. A Shanghai message says it is reliably reported that a group of prominent American business men in Shanghai have drafted a message to the State Department at Washington urging a •200,000,000 dollars credit to Chungking immediately with other assurance of utmost American aid in an effort to offset German pressure at Chungking. Admiral Kiyoshi Hasegama lias bee* appointed Japanese Governor-General of Formosa, replacing Seizo Kobayashi Hasegewa. The former is the first active admiral assigned to Formosa since 191 X and commentators are attaching im|>ortance to the appointment in connection with Japan's southward, policy. China's Confidence in Stalin. American newspaper correspondent* have ascertained that the Chungking Government expresses complete confidence that Stalin will refuse to make any deal with Tokyo which will lessen Soviet aid to China or release the Japanese army at present immobile ia Manchuria and Mongolia for use against China in other areas.

It is understood General Tatekawa, the Japanese Ambassador in Moscow, (has actually suggested the total demilitarisation of the Siberian-Manchurian border, in exchange for which Japan would cede the major portion of north Manchuria to Russia. This would relieve Japan of fear of a surprise attack from Siberia, and also would release many divisions and aeroplanes for use in a southward push.

Xorth Manchuria, except for it* strategic importance, has been a costlv disappointment to Japan. Colonisation schemes there have been utter gold and other mineral deposits are reported to be unimpressive, and the forests have not repaid work on them* while the 1940 crops have failed.

A Hankow message says Japanese Army headquarters in Central China issued a statement saying the Japanese Army launched a fresh offensive to the east and west of the Han River as a result of "further activities by Chines* forces."