TOJO'S HOTILE TONE CAUSES U.S. REACTION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 284, 1 December 1941, Page 7

TOJO'S HOTILE TONE CAUSES U.S. REACTION

ROOSEVELT'S MOVES!

Singapore Ready For Any

Eventuality

United Press Association.—Copyrig-ht. Rec. 1 p«m. WASHINGTON, Nov. 30. After a telephone conference with Mr. Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, President Eoosevelt is cutting short his holiday at Warm Springs, and is returning to Washington immediately. The President's secretary, Mr. Stephen Early, indicated that the speech by Lieutenant-General Tojo, Japanese Prime Minister, in which he demanded steps to end British and American "exploitation," had influenced Mr. Roosevelt's decision to return to the capital. General Tojo's speech made the worst possible impression in Washington, and it will not take many more _ such speeches to harden American public opinion to a point where it would welcome war with Japan. General Tojo's speech is considered almost as menacing as an actual step of aggression. President Roosevelt, in a speech at Warm Springs yesterday, said that by this time next year American soldiers and sailors now in training may be actually fighting for the defence of American institutions. Japs Predict Aggressive Moves Foreign military observers in Shanghai said Japanese army officers were predicting Japanese moves in Thailand by December 1 if Mr. Kurusu, special Japanese envoy to U.S.A., failed. However it is beiieved the Japanese are not yet ready to move. A Singapore message reports that British troops and some R.A.F. units were recalled to barracks last night. An official statement said the step was a normal precaution in the existing circumstances. The tension in Singapore has grown considerably in the last 24 hours and the services are standing by in readiness for any eventuality. Large contingents of British and Indian troops have reached Rangoon in the past two days. An agency message from Tokyo, quoting an authoritative source, says the Japanese reply to Mr. Hull expresses dissatisfaction on important points. Optimism is sharply declining in Japan regarding the Washington talks. The State Department in Washington said to-day that there was no indication, cxcept from reports from Tokyo, that a reply to Mr. Hull's proposals was on the way. Menacc to Whole Pacific It is authoritatively stated that the patience of the United States Government with Japan is near exhaustion, and that another Japanese military move, whether against Thailand or elsewhere south, would be regarded as a Japanese attempt to dominate the whole Pacific area. The United States Government would not tolerate this, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Times. While the negotiations have not collapsed, the United States Government is deeply concerned over the possibility of the Philippines being encircled by Japan, and rubber, tin and other essential defence supplies being cut off by further Japanese aggression. Bangkok radio announced that United States nationals in Thailand had been advised to be ready to leave.

The Governor of Burma has authorised the general officer commanding the armed forces to take over the Burmese frontier force.

According to a Shanghai message, the Japanese are concentrating considerable light naval units, including cruisers, in South China waters, especially at Haiphong. It is believed the Japanese are strengthening their naval contingents to guard their supply lines in the event of a decision to move against Thailand. The United Press correspondent at Shanghai says the approaches to Kobe and Yokohama harbours have been mined.