DURATION OF WAR

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24624, 21 July 1945, Page 7

DURATION OF WAR

Peace Rumours Discounted VICTORY IN 1946 ALLIED GOAL (Rec. 11,50 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 19. With the statement that United States Army and Navy leaders are planning for the war against Japan to continue until at least the nd of 1946, peace rumours that some significant development in the Pacific was imminent have subsided. The Associated Press correspondent in Washington says: “The blunt truth is that 1946 has been set as the goal. Our military leaders are assuming the Japanese will fight to the bitter end. “They are also planning to clean up the campaign in China, though what happens there will depend on Russia. If Russia comes in—a development which the Chiefs of Staff now in Berlin could plan—the western Allies may have little fighting to do on the Asiatic mainland. “Should the enemy wish to cease fighting at any time, the terms are still unconditional surrender, as explained by President Truman to mean the end of Japanese militarism, but not the destruction of Japan.” The Chinese Ambassador to Washington 'Mr Wei Tao-ming), at a press conference, declared that too much attention was being paid to Japanese peace feelers. He said: “I think we should concentrate on defeating Japan, rather than on figuring out a way for the Japanese to surrender.” Asked whether he meant the solution of the Japanese war was military rather than diplomatic, the Ambassador S3 id: “Yes. Why should we try to make surrender easier for Japan?