JAPAN READY TO STRIKE

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23095, 10 August 1940, Page 13

JAPAN READY TO STRIKE

Reported Plan For Drive to South INDO-CHINA MAY BE DEFENDED (ujiixjiu tacas ASsociA.nos —copiaiaar.) (Received August 9, 2.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 8. According to the Associated Press of America, a message received in New York from a trustworthy foreign source in Shanghai says the Japanese Army and navy are speeding up preparations for further moves southward. A lightning thrust will be timed to coincide with any attempt to invade England. In the event of Herr Hitler making no movn, Japan will proceed cautiously but inevitably toward a further extension of her influence. j A French .traveller, who has arrived j in Hong Kong from Hanoi, states that j the Japanese' mission presented Gen- j era! Decoux. the Conimander-in-Chief of the French Far Eastern forces, with a memorandum covering the “co-oper-ation” which Japan expects. Simultaneously, it is learned that the Chinese are massing troops on the Indo-China frontier for a push to Hanoi if the Japanese seize the Haiphong railway for troop movements. ' A Chinese military spokesman said that the movement of Indo-Chinese troops on the Kwangsi border indicates that they are preparing to resist a possible Japanese invasion. A message from Vichy says France and Japan are negotiating the .adjustment of their political and economic relations in the friendliest spirit, designed to meet interests and requirements of both countries. A French economic mission has gone to IndoChina to prepare the basis of a French and Japanese trade accord. One hundred and twenty-six members, of the Japanese House of Representatives passed a resolution “demanding that the Government take a determined stand toward Britain, as well as effective measures to exterminate British influences in East Asia.” Answering a question in the House of Commons on the arrest of British subjects in Japan, the Under-Secre-tary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler) said that the British Ambassador (Sir Robert Craigie) had had a number of discussions with the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Matsuoka). It was hoped that proceedings in these cases would be expedited. It Is authoritatively stated in London that any suggestion that war materials are still proceeding to China by the Burma route, in contravention of the recent understanding between the British and Japanese Governments, is devoid of foundation. It is pointed out that medical supplies are not included in the categories of goods the transport of which has been restricted These categories were described in an answer by - Mr Butler as motor spirit, iron and steel, railway track materia], rolling stock, and component parts, motor vans, lorries, trailers, chassis and parts, arms, ammunition, and parts of military explo c i" ’s 1 i CABLE MESSAGES j IN BRIEF j Children for U.S.—The Immigration Committee of the House of Representatives approved of a bill to permit 200,000 children under 16 to enter the United States for two years under temporary visitors’ visas.—Washington, August 8. Canadian-Built Bomber. —The first Canadian-built Hampden bomber, the product of six Arms, working in cooperation, has been successfully tested. —Quebec, August 8. Munitions Explosion in Italy.— lt is officially stated that 39 persons were killed and hundreds of workmen injured in an explosion in the shellloading department of a powder factory at Piacenza.—Rome, August 8. Cricket Fixture at Lord’s— A cricket match will be played.at Lord’s on August 22 between a West Indies team and Sir Pelham Warner’s eleven. The West Indians will include Constantine, Clark, and Martindale. The proceeds are in aid of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John. —London, August 9. American Sympathy. —The frequent manifestations of sympathy and understanding which Britain’s fight for the freedom of natisns within a peaceful international order evoke in all parts of the Americas always interest the British public. The latest is the report of the formation in Havana of a committee of influential citizens and also United States residents, which is collecting funds for the Allied Red Cross and other war charities. It is intended to devote to this purpose the proceeds of the first showing of a film. News of this movement has been received with grateful pleasure in London, where its generosity is as highly appreciated as the goodwill which inspires it.—Rugby, August 8. Norwegian Iron Industry. —The newspaper “Deutsche Zeitung” states that the Hermann Goering works has taken over Norway’s British-owned Dunderland mines, which produce 150,000 tons of iron ore a year.—London, August 9. British Propaganda in Asia. —The British Broadcasting Corporation is establishing powerful radio stations at Singapore, costing probably £250,000, for multilingual broadcasts, which are expected to begin in a few months, as a counter to German propaganda.— London, August 9. Money for Aircraft.— The Minister for Aircraft Production (Lord Beaverbrook) announced that contributions from the public for the buying of aircraft now total £2,407,000. —London, August 9. British Agriculture. —The Minister for Agriculture (Mr R. S. Hudson), who has just completed a tour of the agricultural areas of England and Wales, stated in the House of Commons to-day that he had been very impressed by the progress already made with the food production campaign. He hoped shortly to announce the programme for the coming season.—Rugby, August 8. ADDRESS BY HON. H. T. ARMSTRONG ♦ .- The Hon. H. T. Armstrong will address a public meeting called by the Christchurch East branch of the New Zealand -Labour Party in the Waltham New School on Monday, August 12, at