SOUTHERN TREND

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 31, 6 February 1941, Page 9

SOUTHERN TREND

JAPAN'S POLICY

CONCERN AROUSED

BASE IN ANNAM

POSSIBLE STARTING PLACE

(By Tele^raiili— Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, February 4. The likelihood of Japan gaining a naval base in Cam Ranh Bay, Annam, as a reward for her mediation in the Thailand-Indo-China dispute is causing concern in British, American, and Chinese circles. The Chinese insist that Japan's moves presage an attack on Singapore. British and American diplomats admit that the moves mean that Japan will have obtained an important jumping-off place for her South Pacific expansion plans, of which the Dutch East Indies are the present goal. Well-informed circles believe that the Dutch East Indies will be able to resist a Japanese attack for only two months. Japanese militarists are convinced that the proper time to launch an offensive against the Indies would be at the time of Germany's expected all-out attack on Britain. There is no belief that Japan can be made to surrender her East Asia policy either by threats or by mildly punitive action like embargoes. Since the embargo and threat tactics were evolved, there has been a great intensification in the "totalitarianisa-

tion" of Japan and the militarists are in 'complete control. The Tokio newspaper "Kokumin Shimbun" says it is self-evident that Japan will go forward with her fixed policy and it will not matter what attitude the Dutch East Indies takes towards Japan's request for co-operation. A fresh development in the Far Eastern situation was a statement today by the Soviet Premier, M. Molotov, that he was willing to appoint representatives to discuss a trade treaty with Japan. It is believed that Japan is making an effort to clinch the German assurances regarding Soviet neutrality by the formulation of a. Rus-sian-Japanese non-aggression pact. Russia has become an extremely important factor, but the paramount factor is Germany's mooted all-out attack on Britain. The successful repulsion of this attack would be the strongest deterrent to Japan.