RUSSO-JAPANESE TENSION DEVELOPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 308, 28 December 1940, Page 7

RUSSO-JAPANESE TENSION DEVELOPS.

UNFRIENDLY SIGNS. Soviet Press Features War Weakness. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 27. Evidence of friction between Russia and Japan is given by the publicity organs of the two countries. The Japanese newspaper, "Niehi Nichi " complains that although the new Japanese Ambassador to. Moscow, Mr. Tatekawa, has tried hard he has been unable to improve Japanese relations with the Soviet. Simultaneously the Moscow radio stated that anti-war feeling was spreading among the Japanese troops in China. It is reported that troops in the employ of the Wang Ching-wei regime had deserted to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek and also that the recent assassinations of Japanese officers in Shanghai were the work of anti-war Japanese. A lengthy article on Japanese conditions, printed in Moscow newspapers, describes the instability of the new regime, the growing domestic and foreign difficulties, the worsening of the economic and food situation and the mounting discontent regarding the Chinese war. The article is one of a series, the widespread publication of which is causing alarm among the Japanese.

HONGKONG STRONG. Cannot Be Taken In Few Days. COMMANDER'S OPINION. (Reed. 10 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 27. The British Commander-in-Chief in the Far East, Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, has arrived in Hongkong. He toured the defences and stated: "Anyone who thinks that Hongkong can be captured in three or four days has got an erroneous impression."