“JAPANESE TOO COCKY”

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23430, 10 September 1941, Page 6

“JAPANESE TOO COCKY”

SUPPLY DIFFICULTY EMPHASISED VIEW OF U.S. STEEL REPRESENTATIVE

“The Japanese have got too cocky, and it’s time they had a lesson,” said Mr James Conrad, Far Eastern division manager of the Republic Steel Corporation, New York, interviewed in Christchurch last evening. Mr Conrad, who was in Japan just before the outbreak of war, is visiting New Zealand towards the end of a business tour in the Far East countries. He said that the Japanese self-assur-ance was laughable. They. were a clever people, but they imagined 'mot they were better than anyone else. But Britain and America had brought them to their present strength, and they were utterly dependent on overseas supplies of steels and other essential products. “That’s where they are out of luck,” said Mr Conrad. His own firm, the third largest steel corporation in the United States, had sent no products to Japan for two years. Asked if Japan had any industrial potential for an attack through Thailand—which he visited on his present tour—Mr Conrad said that there was "nothing in Thailand.” Japanese experts, and possibly Japanese.money as well, had installed oil-producing and electrical plant in Thailand, but the Thai people apparently did not maintain it efficiently. If Japan attempted an attack on Malaya through Thailand she would have to bring all the supplies and equipment from Japan. The Netherlands East Indies were very strong, said Mr Conrad. His corporation had sent considerable supplies of alloy steel to the Indies, for shells and aircraft. The defences had been built up for many years. Twentyone years ago he himself had had to do with the installing of a big arsenal. The Japanese would have a surprise if they attempted to attack in that direction. He was sure that the Indies could hold out till the American naval forces arrived, with the British forces available in the Far East.