THE DUTCH EAST INDIES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23001, 22 April 1940, Page 6

THE DUTCH EAST INDIES

ALLEGED NAZI PLAN TO EMBROIL U.S. ■ FTEW YORK, April 21. . The Shanghai correspondent of the "New York .Times,” Mr Hallett Abend, says that'sensational reports alleging that the ■ German Ambassador to Tokyo (General Ott) deliberately provoked the dispute over the Netherlands East Indies have been, sent by British, Dutch, and other officials to their respective Governments. The correctness of the allegation cannot be ascertained in Shanghai. It is aUeged’that General Ott paid 20,000 yeh a . Chain of Japanese newspapers for the publication* of a series of alarmist articles to J-the effect that, "if Herr Hitler invades Holland the Allies will, seize the East Indies.” ~ The articles, deeply stirred the Japanese. The Japanese Foreign Minister ; <Mr .H; Arita) fell into the German trap and issued his declaration on the „ status' of, the Netherlands East ’lndies. "General ’ Ott’s motive was allegedly to, , .embroil ' the United States in war with Japan, A message from Washington says that the Japanese Ambassador (Mr K. Horinoiichi), after an interview with the Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) stated that' both desired to maintain the status quo of the Netherlands East Indies, , >