A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 125, 20 February 1941, Page 8

A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

The United States' reaction to Japan s declaration of peaceful intentions is that deeds must accompany the Japanese words. It is evident that the United States does not intend to change her present attitude toward Japan. In Tokio the Foreign Minister appealed to the nation to present a united front. He said diplomacy not backed by strength was useless. Australian troops —-the largest force ever to arrive in a single convoy —have been sent to Malaya and have gone to secret destinationin the country. Germany is reported- to be pressing Greece for a settlement ui the Albanian conflict, while Nazi planes reconnoitre the Grecian territory most directly menaced north of the Aegean Sea. In the place of the Nazi approach to Asia Minor the question of Turkey’s strategy under her combined policy of securing her own safety and standing bv the alliance with Britain is still obscured by some very diverse comment in the developments. In contrast to the Axis' claim that I tnkey will not oppose a Nazi military drive, an influential Turkish newspaper declares that the agreement with Bulgaria has closed the path to Nazi aid against Greece, which statement itself is in contrast to' the official 1 urkisli and Bulgarian claims of the modest scope of the agreement. Ihe London official news agency supports the latter view, while “'lju Times” says that the large Turkish army on the western frontlet may 7 not intervene if its task is considered impossible. A Yugoslav politician claims that the Germans have asked for a path to Greece through Yugoslavia. During the sixth dav of their new local offensives in Albania the Greeks’made important captures The fighting was vigorous, the Italian defence being stubborn. Tribesmen are pursuing Italian forces which have evacuated another considerable area in the north-west highlands of Abyssinia. In Eritrea the British threat to the rear ol Keren front the north is now an imminent factor, and the column to the south ol Keren has continued its advance.