MEDIATION OFFER

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 126, 21 February 1941, Page 7

MEDIATION OFFER

London Sees No Basis For Tokio’s Proposal

I Received February 20, 11.55 p.m.i LONDON. February 20. H is authoritatively stated in London that the Japanese offer of mediation showed little knowledge of the conditions Japan’s Axis partners have produced in Europe and also took no account, of the determination of the British, often voiced by Mr. Churcliili. to tight without compromise for Hie defeat of Hitlerism. 'Tlie Tinies” says the Japanese assurances must necessarily be interpreted in tlie light of Japanese actions which nobody could regard as reassuring. Tlie main cause lor uneasiness in tlie Far East was tlie ThreePower Paet, which was everywhere construed as a threat against tlie United States if she peristsed in help ing Britain. The Japanese actions in Thailand and 1 ndo-China and the pressure which Japan was obviously using against the Dutch Indios intensified tlie uneasiness. It is reported from Batavia that the Netherlands East indies Government lias received a Japanese request to explore oil areas in the Netherlands East indies, and has indicated its willingness to specify certain areas. Tlie Dutch authorities are reported to have signified their willingness on the condition that Dutch observers accompany the Japanese surveyors.