CALL TO “SHOW RESOLUTION”

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23495, 25 November 1941, Page 8

CALL TO “SHOW RESOLUTION”

No Retreat From Policies GENERAL TOJO’S STATEMENT (Received November 24, 11 p.m.) LONDON, November 24. General Tojo. the Japanese Prime Minister, appealed to a conference of 60 provincial governors in Tokyo today to “show resolution” in the present crisis. He added: “Japan is confronting an unprecedented crisis, but is confident that she will surmount all obstacles.” He said there was no retreat from what he called “Japan’s immutable policies," General Tojo did not mention the negotiations in Washington. Mr Kiwao Okumura, vice-president of the Japanese Cabinet Information Board, in a national broadcast address, said: "The Japanese people have no other choice but to charge forward on their way, and if we knock our head against a stone wall we must break through it. History is now sounding a warning note that a serious situation is about to befall us.” Repeating the statement of the Prime Minister that Japan was now at the crossroads and must rise or fall, he

continued; “The Government has made a grim determination to breast all difficulties in this effort. It is abandoning secrecy and is taking the people into its confidence' to win their wholehearted support. “It is the duty cf the Information Board to let you know what powerful strides General Tojo and his Cabinet are making and to inflame the hearts of the people which are now reaching Ignition point so that their patriotism will burst into furious flame and the sacred everlasting fire which has been burning for the last 2600 years will be kept burning in all its glory.” The Tokyo newspaper “Asahi,” commenting on the talks in Washington between representatives of Japan and the United States, complains that the officials conducting the talks for the United States had a conference with representatives of the A.B.C.D. Powers and it says: “This attitude casts suspicion on the future of the talks between Japan and the United S|,ajes.” Talks in Critical Phase - - " The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says that the conversations between Japan and America have reached a critical phase. Both sides have indicated their willingness to reach a truce in the long-range economic and strategic war and both sides have made suggestions about the terms on which they are prepared to reach a limited agreement. Because of the delicacy of the situation, it is impossible, to discuss the terms, but it can be said that both sides are confident, that so long as the balance of power remains about the same as it is in Europe there will be no spread of the war to the Pacific. The Washington correspondent of the United Press of America says Mr Kurusu, Japan’s special envoy, to the United States, and Admiral Nomura, the Japanese Ambassador, held a long conference in the early hours with their aides at the Japanese Embassy following Saturday night’s meeting with Mr Cordell Hull, the United States Secretary of State, and later dispatched a long coded cablegram to Tokyo. The correspondent states that Mr Hull will meet Admiral Nomura and Mr Kurusu again early in the week. In the meantime, Japanese reverses Jn China are reported. A Chungking communique says that Chinese detachments have caused tremendous casualties among the Japanese troops. Japanese attempts to cross the Yellow river have been repulsed, and in the central sector the loss of an important position has forced the Japanese to retire. { SHORTAGE OF SILVER FOR COINAGE COPPER HARDER TO PROCURE (Received November 24, 11.45 p.m.) CANBERRA. November 24. Because of a shortage of silver for coinage, the Federal Government may be asked to authorise the issue of fiveshilling notes. If a shortage of pennies and halfpennies over Christmas is to be avoided, a substitute for copper may have to be used. Copper is becoming harder to procure for coins because of the demands of war industries. Some limitation of the right of cashing war savings certificates may be forced on the Government because of the proportion of certificates being converted. The cashing of certificates may be prohibited until after they have been held for a specified time. Treasury officials are concerned at the scale on which holders are converting. In some states 25 per cent, of the total number of certificates sold have been cashed and officials fear further heavy conversions over Christmas. GENERAL STRIKE THREATENED NEWCASTLE MINERS’ DEMAND (Received November 24, 7 p.m.) SYDNEY. November 24. The northern miners’ lodges threaten a general strike in the coal industry within a fortnight if the Commonwealth Government fails to redress the miners’ grievance regarding their holiday; and which led to the stay-in strike at the Wallarah mine in the Newcastle district. The particular clause in the award to which the miners object gives the owners the right to reduce holiday pay in proportion to the number of strikes in which miners participate. The Government is taking steps to avoid a hold-up by appointing an independent judge to make an inquiry. The atay-ln strike is continuing,