U.S. WARNING

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 175, 19 April 1940, Page 10

U.S. WARNING

East Indies Status Quo To Be Respected REPLY TO JAPANESE STATEMENT (Received April 18, 11.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 18. The United States warns foreign nations to respect the status quo in the Netherlands East Indies, regardless of what happens to the Netherlands. Mr. Cordell Hull, replying to Mr. Arita. Japanese Foreign Minister, who made a statement interpreted to mean that Japan would not move at present if other Powers refrained, declared: ‘‘lntervention in the domestic affairs of the Netherlands Indies or any alteration in their status quo by other than peacelul processes will be piejudicial to the stability, peace, and security of the entire Pacific.

Anv change in tlie status of the Indies, "Mr. Hull milled, would directly nlTevt the interests of many countries. The Indies were very important in international relationships over the whole Pacific Ocean, and also tin important factor in the commerce of the whole world. They produced considerable portions of the world's supplies of essential commodities such as rubber. tin. quinine, ami copra, ami many countries, including the United States, depended substantially upon them for some of these commodities. Mr. Hull said it was firmly resolved to respect the rights of the Netherlands in their insular possessions in the Pacific Ocean. A copy of Mr. Hull’s statement has been handed to the Japanese Foreign Office. Policy Hardening. Due to the promptness with .which Mr. Hull clarilied the United Slates’ position in the light, of Mr. Arita s statement, it is believed that American policy toward the situation in the Pacific is hardening. An eight-column streamer headline across the front page of Ihe New York “Herald-Tribune’’— “Hull warns Japan not to take Dutch East Indies’’—indicates the importance that is placed on the statement. It is interpreted as intended to forestall developments precipitating an emergency. While both the United States ami Japan now have declared for maintenance of the status quo. their statements are pitched on different planes which mav prove significant. Mr. Arita declared for the status quo because of close relations between the Digel) East Indies and Japan. Mr. Hull spoke from the standpoint of international interests. The gravity of the situation is indicated liy the'Slate Department taking the iiniisiial step of issuing a format statement without awaiting official word from Tokio as to whether Japan s intentions were honourable or acquisitive.