BRITAIN AND U.S. ACT

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 258, 28 July 1941, Page 7

BRITAIN AND U.S. ACT

Japanese Assets Frozen FIRST LANDING AT SAIGON (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received July 27, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 27. Great Britain has informed Japan that she is severing- trade relations between the two countries. This followed earlier announcements in London and in Washington that all Japanese credits in the British Empire and the United States had been frozen as a counter to Japanese aggression in French Indo-China. Japan has retaliated by freezing British and United States credits. It is officially announced in Vichy and Tokio that France and Japan have concluded an agreement for the mutual defence of IndoChina. It is reliably reported that the agreement provides for the stationing of 40,000 Japanese troops in Indo-China, and that they are to be maintained by Indo-China. It also provides for the occupation of the Cam-Ranh Bay naval base and the Saigon air base. All United States troops in Hawaii have been placed on the alert and precautionary status. Units of the army outside Hawaii will be affected. President Roosevelt has ordered the army and the navy in the Philippines Commonwealth to be formed into a command of the armed forces of the United States for the duration of the emergency.

The Netherlands Government in London is consulting the Netherland East Indies Government about measures to be taken.

A later message reports that the occupation of military and naval bases in Indo-China by Japanese forces has already begun. Japanese advance units arrived at Saigon yesterday and troops have embarked at a number of unspecified ports in Cambodia. The main body of troops is expected to arrive between now and Tuesday. The Japanese Minister of Finance, Mr. Ogura, stated that Japanese assets in the United States were not large. Moreover, trade with the United States had diminished steadily in recent months, and therefore the effect of the American action would be comparatively slight. The Japanese Cabinet spokesman, Mr. Ito, in a broadcast, said the United States misunderstood Japan’s true intentions. The agreement regarding Indo-China was the same as the American arrangement to occupy Iceland. American actions would not affect Japan but Japan would take counter-measures.

NOW AT SAIGON

Japanese Military Mission TOKIO MOBILIZATION (Received July 27, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 27. The chief' of the Japanese military mission to Indo-China, General Sumita, and other officers, arrived at Saigon yesterday from Hanoi. Warships and troop transports are expected to arrive today. A considerable number of Japanese troops have already entered IndoChina for the purpose of occupying the whole country, says the Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm “Social Demokraten.” The Germans consider this presages developments in the world situation, notably a Japanese move into Thailand. Announcing that the occupation began on Thursday, Dr. Gayda, in the “Giornale d’ltalia,” Rome, says: “With this episode in its march southward Japan takes up a clear position against the policy of Britain and America and boldly develops its expansive trajectory.” Mobilization in Japan. The Shanghai correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that Japan is mobilizing more than 1,000,000 men in the greatest call to arms since 1937. Those newly called up are said to include discharged veterans of the China war and some men previously considered unfit for service. Mobilization began on July 17 and is still continuing. Many British and Americans in Tokio converted their bank deposits into cash in anticipation of the decision of Britain and the United States to freeze Japanese credits. Reuter says a weakening of the Tokio stock market following reports that Singapore is to arm all merchantmen, and as a result of conjecture about United States action. The Drench military staff has departed from Saigon for Tonkin. The Associated Press reports that French warplanes are preparing to move in a similar direction. Defence Measures in Malaya. It is authoritatively stated in London that certain defence measures in Malaya have already been enforced in view of the plain threat to British territories which Japanese action in Indo-China implies. A message from Hong Kong states that Japan’s move in Indo-Ch-ina is expected to result in a sharp reduction of rice imports and also to hamper Hong Kong shipping movements. In Tokio a 50 per cent, reduction in the milk ration has been ordered. A dispatch from San Francisco states that the silk-laden Japanese ship Tatuha Maru, which, last evening was seen cruising in a leisurely fashion 12 miles off-shore, apparently has vanished. A strict radio silence is being maintained by all Japanese ships, and none answered radio calls yesterday. Enlisted voluntarily, a huge fleet of small fishing boats and pleasure craft is being assembled by the United States Navy in San Francisco, Monterey and other ports to help guard the coast. Their principal function will be patrolling and augmenting the force of larger vessels.

BRAZIL SUPPORTS U.S. POLICY

(Received July 27, 9.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 26. According to the Rio de' Janeiro correspondent of the North. American Newspaper Alliance, the Foreign Minister, Senor Aranha, in an interview, Baid Brazil would give full support to the foreign policies of the United States in the present crisis in world affairs. The Office of Production Management has ordered the freezing of all stocks of raw silk in the United Stales “to meet the threatened shortage due to Unset tlecDconditionS-in. the-Far-East.”