JAPAN’S PRESSURE ON THAILAND

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 9, 6 October 1941, Page 7

JAPAN’S PRESSURE ON THAILAND

Reported Increasing (Received October 5, 9-10 p.m-) NEW YORK, October 4. The Saigon correspondent of the Associated Dress states that there are indications that Japan is increasing diplomatic pressure on Thailand- Japanese quarters in Saigon state frankly that the agreement with Thailand was one of the most important objectives in Japan's southward march, and that it is hoped to achieve this in a peaceful manner. The Japanese in Indo-Chlna today began military manoeuvres. It is disclosed that troops, tanks, and other equipment sufficient for a full-scale campaign are engaged. The Bangkok correspondent of the Tokio "Asahi Shimbun” states that Thailand is fast assuming a pro-Bri-tish colour because of British political machinations, with the result that intensified friction and strife between the country’s pro-Britjsh and pro-Jap-anese elements is occurring- • The official spokesman of tne Japanese Government, Mr. Ishii, commenting on the shipments from the Netherlands East Indies to Russia, said that these were considered to reveal an unfriendly attitude to Japan on account of the fact that Japanese-Dutch trade at present was practically at a standstill. He said that the Japanese ConsulGeneral in Batavia was negotiating with the Netherlands East Indies authorities for a resumption of trade concerning which at present the biggest question was the method of payment, Netherlands and Soviet. Well-informed circles in Batavia believe that the Netherlands East Indies will continue to supply Russia’s needs, despite Mr. Ishii’s warning. Netherlands policy was clearly defined by a Government spokesman on August 5, when he said that though they would not maintain diplomatic relations with Russia, oil, rubber, tin, bauxite and other products of the Netherlands East Indies were at the disposal of the Soviet. The British Commauder-in-Ghief in the Far East, Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-I’opham, has arrived at Manila from Singapore for a three-day conference with United States officials. He said that one result of the talks would be Anglo-American co-operation in speeding up supplies to China over the Burma Road. He thought that the Japanese were beginning to believe that the Axis Lad double-crossed them.