AMERICA AND JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23412, 20 August 1941, Page 7

AMERICA AND JAPAN

“Strain Exceedingly

Acute”

CONFERENCE IN TOKYO

(Received August 19, 11.55 p.m.)

(U.P.A.) LONDON, August 19.

The United Press of America says relations between-the United States and Japan were admittedly near breaking point to-day following a conference between the United States Ambassador'in Tokyo (Mr Joseph C. Grew) and the Japanese Foreign Minister (Admiral Toyoda), at which Mr Grew is reported to have warned Japan that American pressure will be intensified unless Japan makes fundamental changes in her foreign policy.

It is understood that Admiral Toyoda refused to make any pledge to Mr Grew, but it was reported that he did not reiterate his past statements that Japanese ' policy is based on the Tripartite Axis Pact.

The last 24 hours have seen an exceedingly acute strain, but negotiations have not yet passed from the diplomatic stage. The outlook, however, is admittedly not bright.

The United States, it is understood, is attempting to confine the immediate situation to the status of Americans in Japanese-controlled areas and other technical points resulting from America’s freezing of Japanese assets. Tokyo, on the other hand, insists on a broader discussion of Japanese-Ameri-can relations, including Japan’s greater Far East programme. After the conference between Mr Grew and Admiral Toyoda the Japanese Foreign Office protested to the United States against insinuations that Americans were being held in Japan as hostages. The Foreign Office alleges that Washington misrepresented Japan’s position about the refusal of permission for the United States liner President- Coolidge to call at a Japanese port to pick up 100 Americans. The Foreign Office will shortly make a statement giving 'its explanations. - In Washington the United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) stated that Japan had not given a satisfactory explanation of her refusal to permit Americans to depart. The spokesman at the Japanese Cabinet’s Information Bureau (Mr Ishii) later said Americans could leave Japan “only if the Japanese Government gives permission.” He added that applications must be considered case by case. The Japanese Foreign Office has notified foreign embassies and legations that all aliens must obtain permission from the local governor before leaving Japan. The order is effective immediately. Meanwhile, the occupation of Indochina by the Japanese goes on. /More Japanese troops and supplies arrived at Saigon yesterday. It is believed that the troops complete the quota allowed under the Vichy-Japanese agreement. General Sumita, leader of the Japanese commission to Indo-China, is reported fo be in conference with the Vichy Governor of Indo-China (Admiral Decoux) and to be discussing outstanding problems in the Japanese occupation. It is understood that the first meeting of the mixed commission, which is to decide the new frontier with Thailand, has been postponed till Thursday. The Japanese Domei News Agency has reported that Japanese assistance to Indo-China might be increased because of the tightening encirclement of the Japanese sphere by Britain and the Jnited States.

The correspondent of the Dome! Agency at Singapore states that all Japanese and'other aliens within a radius of 15 miles of the Singapore naval base have been ordered to leave the area within a fortnight. The Japanese include residents and officers and concerns holding vast rubber tracts. They are appealing against the decision. All Japanese women and children are said to be voluntarily leaving Canton for Hong Kong. According to the Shanghai correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain Japanese sources have intimated that the Nanking regime intends to oust British and United States consular officials from Japanese occupied China on the ground that they have failed to recognise Mr Wang Ching-wei, the Japanese puppet leader. It is officially announced in Cairo that large quantities of Egyptian cotton, which are ready for shipment to Japan, will not go forward following the cancellation of all navicerts for cargoes from Egypt to Japan. The Japanese liner Kasima Maru arrived at Brisbane yesterday to load wool before taking her final departure for Japan. ,