PROGRESS OF U.S.- JAPAN TALKS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 297, 12 September 1941, Page 7

PROGRESS OF U.S.JAPAN TALKS

No Early Conclusion, Says Mr. Hull REPORTS HELD TO BE FAVOURABLE (Received Sept. 11, 10.35 p.m,) NEW YORK, September 11. Whether America and Japan are likely to settle their differences by peaceful agreement has become a first-class mystery. Many of the American papers yesterday confidently predicted an almost immediate settlement. The State Secretary, Mr. Hull, today said he had no reason to believe that there would be any announcement in the near future concerning the. diplomatic conversations between the two Governments in the.past fortnight, beyond the simple statement that the conversations were continuing, Refusing to accept this statement, the “New York Times” says that the conversations with Japan are proceeding favourably and possibly they will lead to an announcement shortly. The Tokio correspondent of the same newspaper reports that long and delicate negotiations will be inevitable, but that “hope is reviving." Japanese business men and politicians, lie says, no longer think that their situation I? desperate. The Press there is saying that Japan expects a long European war and nobody desires to plunge Japan into it. General Chiang’s Hope.

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, in au exclusive interview in Chungking with the United Press of America, said he “hopes and believes” that while Chinn is continuing the light against Japan the United States and other friendly countries will intensify their economic pressure upon the Japanese or, at least, not relax it. He pledged tho Government and people of China to keep on the “war of resistance against Japan to the bitter end." The Generalissimo implied that American economic sanctions against Japau might be a decisive factor. “This programme,” he said, “should be and, I trust, is a bond of understanding which binds all the nations which are interested in Pacific affairs and which are committed to a general policy of opposition to aggression," He said he was confident that all friendly nations would not allow themselves again to be lulled into a false sense of security by Japan, the national policy of which consisted of alternative shows of conciliation and of open intimidation.

TORPEDOED, THEN SHELLED Sinking Of The Sessa LONDON, September 10. The U.S. State Department in Washington has disclosed statements from the survivors of the steamship Sessa, which was'sunk some 300 miles southwest of Iceland, showing that it was both torpedoed and shelled by a German submarine without warning. The ship sank within two initiates. The department adds-that the three survivors are a Dane, a Swede, and a Portuguese. The Cairo correspondent of the British United Piess says that the cargo of the Steel Seafarer, which was sunk by bombing in the Gulf of Suez, is officially described as “a typical lendlease cargo.” It consisted of miscellaneous spares ard light machinery, but there were no tanks. The cargo represented less than 2 per cent, of the total shipments under the Lend-Lease Act which have reached the Middle East in safety. PRESIDENT’S RADIO ADDRESS The radio address by President Roosevelt, postponed from Tuesday because of the death of his mother, Is now scheduled to be made from the White House, Washington, this afternoon at 2 o’clock New Zealand time. The duration of the broadcast, originally fixed for 15 minutes, has now been announced as about 25 minutes. 'Hie address will be broadcast by all the principal North American stations, and will also be beard from all United States shortwave stations. It is to be translated into 14 foreign languages for shortwave transmission. The National Broadcasting Service states that providing conditions are satisfactory it will rebroadcast the speech from the four main Dominion stations at the time of reception, and a recording will be given following the news from London at 6.30 p.m. today.