PLAYING GERMAN GAME

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 120, 14 February 1941, Page 7

PLAYING GERMAN GAME

London Press Views On Japan THREATS TO BRITAIN AND U.S.A. i British Official Wireless., (Received February 13, p.m.) RUGBY, February 12. Discussing Japanese aspirations, the "Daily Telegraph" interprets a Bill giving the Japanese navy power to direct all shipping in time of wai as the formulation of one more.ot the familiar threats of the I'oreign Minister. Mr. Matsuoka, toward British and American interests. "The Times." after rental king that the Japanese war against China is far from finished, finds it hardly credible that responsible statesmen could be so infatuated as to behove that ill success in one war can be retrieved by starting anothei.

There was no doubt that in turning tbeir attention to the area of the I actlie where French, Dutch, and Bn Ist interests were predominant, the Japan ese were playing the German game at the bidding of Berlin, the paper adds. It would, of course, suit Germany vety well to see Britain lin'd Dutch resources being expended now in a struggle in tlie Far East. It was apparently Hitler's stategy to get Britain to spread her war effort over many different theatres, while massing Jus strength for a blow at Britain. I.he tricks of Hitler's statecraft were known. and Britain everywhere was well prepared. The “Daily Telegraph" comment.that "it is assuredly one of Hitler's most cherished hopes that he will be able to tempt and cheat Japan into war wit], the British Empire and the United States.” The temper of the Empire was well known, ail'd the United States had shown itself plainly against any yielding to the truculence of Japan. ' Also, with the best of her army and material held in the morass of the war with China, Japanese imperialists might well think hard before a final imitation of Hitler.