KEEPING STATUS QUO

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 112, 13 May 1940, Page 10

KEEPING STATUS QUO

PACIFIC POWERS

PUBLIC STATEMENTS

COMMITMENTS RECALLED

WASHINGTON, May 11,

The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, reiterated that the United States is vitally interested in the maintenance of the status quo of the Dutch East Indies, adding that any change would be prejudicial to the stability and peace of the entire Pacific area. .1

Mr. Hull's statement followed the general lines of that of April 17. It was made in response to queries regarding the status of the islands and Press dispatches from Tolcio saying that the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Arita, had expressed to diplomats a similar interest by Japan.

Mr. Hull said: "I have had no full report concerning the matter referred to in the Press dispatches from Tokio. A numbe? of Governments in recent weeks, including those of England, Japan, and the United States, have made clear, official, and public utterances expressing their attitude and continued respect for the status quo.

"This is in harmony with definite commitments formally made in writing in 1922. The United States assumes that each Government will continue to abide by' them. An expression of intention to respect the status quo of the East Indies cannot too often be reiterated."

A Tbkio^message says that the Japan-, ese spokesman announced that all the Powers concerned have been notified; that Japan will insist on maintenance of the status quo of the Netherlands i East Indies. EFFECT ON TRADE. A Netherlands official in a statement said that the Japanese trade with the East Indies, including rubber and oil, may increase as a ; result of the war, and the Netherlands' sales to the Soviet may be reduced for fear that j the products would eventually reafch Germany.

The Legation emphasised that the Dutch possessions in the East Indies are not affected, adding that Holland has waived any offer of protection by any foreign Power, being fully prepared to uphold the independence of her overseas* territories regardless of the conditions in the mother country.

The Japanese public are calm and not surprised at the invasion of' the Low Countries, having fully anticipated it since Mr. Arita's declaration regarding maintaining the status quo of the Dutch East Indies on April 15, which was taken as a forecast of the invasion. Mr. Arita today summoned the Netherlands Minister, Mr. Pabst, and stated that the Japanese Government earnestly hoped that the Netherlands would firmly maintain the aforesaid policy. - A surprising incident occurred today at a public concert at Tokio sponsored by leading educationists and attended by 4000 students. A big orchestra unexpectedly played "Deutschland Über Alles." The conductor, a German Jew, Herr Rosenstock, refused to function, whereupon a Japanese conductor took over. The incident caused a sensation. \