OPTIMISM OF MR. KURUSU

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 45, 17 November 1941, Page 7

OPTIMISM OF MR. KURUSU

Other Voices In Tokio (Received November 16, 9.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 15. On his arrival at San Francisco, Mr. Kurusu said he was optimistic about the chances of preserving peace in the Pacific. “The peoples of Japan and the United States should take peace for granted,” he said. “There are many who want to bring our two nations into the war for their own advantage. We must look at things from our own point of view.”

Mr. Kurusu said he had come to the United States to offer all-out assistance to" Admiral Nomura. He added: “I fully realize the difficulty of my task, but I hope to break through the line and make a touch down.” Alleged Encirclement. The “Hocbi Shimbun,” Tokio, predicted that Mr. Kurusu would frankly convey to President Roosevelt and Mr. Hull the fact that the Japanese nation was reaching the limit of patience on account of the strengthening of the A.B.C.D. anti-Japanese encirclement line. “The fate of the Pacific depends on the attitude of the American leaders toward this,” it said. The Tokio correspondent of the “New York Times,” Otto D. Tolischus, reports that 56 members of. the Throne Aid League of the Lower House, which is the majority party, have submitted to league officers a resolution urging that the league encourage the Government iu the present situation, adding: “The haughty attitude taken up by the United States against Japan is beyond words. The Throne Aid League should point out the unbearable attitude of the United States, in the name of the Japanese people, so as to make the world understand Japan’s just assertions.” t The correspondent also reports tnai Emperor Hirohito sent a message of felicitations to Leopold of Belgium on the occasion of the anniversary of the king’s christening. The message aroused considerable attention in diplomatic quarters in view of the fact that Leopold is Hitler’s prisoner of war. Military Expenditure.

Another Tokio message says Cabinet is to request the Diet to appropriate 3,800,600,000 yen for extraordinary military expenditures, which will make the nation’s aggregate war expenses under the special account since the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese hostilities 26,209,000,000 yen. It was stated in a Tokio message received in Vichy that the additional appropriation of £380,000,000 which the Diet will be asked to approve, will be largely devoted to strengthening Japanese naval armaments. The War Office in Tokio announced a drastic revision of the conscription regulations, bringing in scores of thousands of men hitherto exempt. President Roosevelt announced that he has decided to withdraw all American marines in China at present stationed in Shanghai, Tientsin and Peiping, but that gun-boats on the Yangtze River are not affected because they are naval forces. Defending Burma Road.

The Japanese troops are going to have a tough time if they move against the Burma Road; said Mr. Marco Hellman, the transportation expert, who has returned to New York from China.

The Japanese would have to cross terrific mountain country which the Chinese could easily defend, he said.