NETHERLANDS AND JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23350, 9 June 1941, Page 7

NETHERLANDS AND JAPAN

Reply To Demands On East Indies “NO POLITICAL INTERFERENCE” (Received June 8, 10 p.m.) (U.P.A.) BATAVIA, June 7. • The reply of the Netherlands East Indies to Japan’s demands is based on three main points, which are:— (1) No political interference, and firm rejection of overtures, direct or otherwise, for the inclusion of the East Indies in Japan’s New Order in East Asia. (2) No economic vassalage. (3) No supplies to the enemy under any guise. The Dutch have not completely closed the door, because they have declared that they are willing to continue on a reasonable basis, as hitherto, co-operation to develop economic relations between the two countries. “Japan’s reaction to the Netherlands East Indies’ reply to the Japanese demands will not be known until the full text of it is received,” said an official Japanese spokesman at a press conference in Tokyo. “Japan will not resort to force, even if the reply is considered to be unsatisfactory. She will continue to negotiate.” ' Mr Yoshizawa, the Japanese delegate in Batavia, after receiving the Netherlands reply, asked the Dutch officials to clear up some points, and then took it away for study, which will probably take a /considerable time. Mr Yoshizawa said that the reply was disappointing in some respects but various points were still open for discussion. , A Java newspaper, m a leading article, says: “There are indications that certain gaps between the views of the two parties are too wide to be bridged. If Japan had not linked herself with our enemies, with the consequent danger of some of our products falling into German hands, there would be no objection to filling her requests.” A British Official Wireless message says that the Netherlands Minister m Tokyo, on instructions from the Royal Netherlands Government, has officially protested against utterances by Mr Koh Ishii. the deputy-spokesman Df the Japanese Government. According to a report issued by the Japanese Domei News Agency, this responsible Japanese official, _ at - . a recent press conference with foreign correspondents, said that the Netherlands East Indies authorities were Jacking in sincerity in their conduct of the Batavia negotiations Japanese. Mr Ishii spoke about the violation of certain promises made to Japan, and questioned the integrity of the intentions of the Dutch negotiators. These observations, it is stated, are devoid of all foundation. INVASION OF MALTA POSSIBILITY BEING FACED (Received June 8, 9 p.m,) MALTA, June 7. “We are facing the possibility of invasion. We are more capable of resisting an attack than Crete,” said Lieu-tenant-General W. G. S. Dobbie, Commander of the troops in Malta, m a broadcast. , ... . . “The circumstances justify quiet confidence. The Government and the fighting services are doing their utmost to ensure that Malta gives a good account of itself. I .am confident we will succeed in doing so.” “EVERY SINEW BEING STRAINED” air force support for TROOPS IN EGYPT MELBOURNE, June 7, The Prime Minister of Australia (Mr R. G, Menzies) declared that every sinew was being strained in Britain to ensure the largest possible Air Force support for the Imperial troops in the Egyptian war zone. . He added that Australians, in the next two years, must work as they never have worked before. “I believe that in spite of our troubles we are going to win,” said Mr Menzies. “Nobody, even in Germany, really believes that Germany is going to win." U.S. AMBASSADOR IN VICHY ATTACK BY PARIS RADIO LONDON, June 6. The German-controlled Paris radio to-night launched a violent attack on the American Ambassador in Vichy (Admiral W. D. Leahy), claiming that he was a high dignitary of Freemasonry, and that he represented a nation which allowed itself to be controlled by a few “rotten immigrants.” The Ambassador, it was stated, was an undesirable person, and on the day on which the Government handed him his credentials there would be one enemy less in France, FRENCHMEN ARRIVE IN GIBRALTAR ♦ TWO GENERALS AND A LIEUTENANT (Received June 9, 12.45 am.) . MADRID, June 8. A three-engined flying-boat arrived at Gibraltar from the direction of the Mediterranean with two French generals and one French lieutenant. They were taken to the residence of Lord Cort, Governor of Gibraltar.