ANTI-COMMUNISM

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 121, 18 November 1936, Page 11

ANTI-COMMUNISM

JAPAN AND GERMANY

REPORTED TERMS

CHOICE FOR LEAGUE

United Tress Association— By Electric TeloKrapli—Copyright.) (Received November 18, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, November 17. The Shanghai correspondent of "The Times" states that advices from Tokio refer to the adherence of Italy to the anti-Communist agreement between Japan and Germany and state that under its terms Italy will recognise Manchukuo in. return for Japan recognising Abyssinia. This will involve an Italian break at Geneva, but Signor Mussolini is prepared to give the League the alternative of losing Italy or recognising the realities regarding Manchukuo and Abyssinia. The agreement is a combination pronouncement against Communism and a trade agreement based upon the principle of barter, Manchukuo raw materials to be exchanged for German manufactures and soya beans for arms and munitions. It is believed that what the Japanese army principally wants is an exchange of information by which it would share Germany's technical skill in new inventions. BRITISH REFUSAL. The correspondent says:— "According to advice from Tokio, the reported German-Japanese agreement is less than a formal alliance, but more than a mere declaration against Communism. The following is forecast: —The purely defensive character of the agreement will be emphasised, and its purpose is to unite the anti-Communistic Powers, against the spread of Soviet influences. It will probably provide for technical collaboration between, the German and Japanese armies, also for German assistance towards Japanese re-arma-ment: "The agreement is not directed against China. On the contrary, Japanese policy is to secure China's adhesion. "Italy, it is added, will probably adhere to the agreement, either directly or through her agreement with Germany. The Japanese, it is said, originally hoped to include Britain in the anti-Soviet front, but Britain refused to join in any project dividing the world into Fascist and Communist blocks."

A Shanghai cable published yesterday stated that a very strict censorship had been imposed in 'Japan on news that a treaty between Germany and Japan against Communism was reported to be imminent, despite denials.