Australian Warning

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 38, 14 February 1941, Page 7

Australian Warning

SERIOUS STAGE IN WAR

; LONDON, February 13. Today has again brought a series of reports about increasing tension in the Par East.

A warning has been given by the Australian War Council, American citizens have again been urged to leave Japan and other Far Eastern countries, and there are Chungking reports that Germany has been very active in recent weeks persuading Japan to move against Britain.

The Australian War Council's warning said that the council had considered cable messages dealing with recent developments in the international situation. The Chiefs of Staff, together with Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, Coinmander-in-Chief in the Far East, were invited to be present at tomorrow's meeting to discuss the situation. . .

The statement went on: "We think we should tell the people that in the considered opinion of the War Council the war has moved into anew stage involving1 the utmost gravity, What the future has in store is not precisely clear, but what is clear is that Australia's safety makes it essential that there should be neither delay nor doubt about the need for the greatest effort for preparedness that this country has ever made." .

The advice to American citizens to leave the Far East has been given through the United States Consulate, which describes it as a precautionary measure in view of the disturbed conditions. The note is circulated to Americans in Japan inviting them to leave in their own and in the best national interests.

A Reuter message from Chungking states that information has been reaching Chinese headquarters about Germany's attempts to persuade Japan to move against Britain and possibly against the United States in the Pacific. This information, it is stated, says that Japan is yielding to German pressure. Chinese headquarters," the correspondent declares, say that China would not remain idle ■ if Japan took action against Britain, I because she could effectively assist in Burma or Singapore. The advice issued by the American Consulate to American citizens has attracted much attention in Chungking. Great prominence has also been given in the Chinese capital to the statement made by President Roosevelt at his Press conference on Tuesday, when he said that though he regarded the chance of the United States getting into the war as slight, if she were forced into the'war in the Pacific she would still maintain her full war supplies to Britain. JAPANESE GENERAL'S TOUR. The Japanese general who yesterday was reported to be on a visit to Bangkok has now flown toack to Saigon, according to a Tokio message. It is said that while he was in Bangkok he had talks with the Prime Minister of Thailand and with other important officials. His talks are said to be connected with the Tokio conference, which is trying to settle^the dispute between Thailand and Indo-China under Japan's auspices.

The belief that Japan intends to make something for herself out of the peace conference is reflected in the rumour that Thailand, like Indo-China, will be pressed to, give Japan naval ajnd air bases.

The Japanese Government is proposing to set up an imperial petroleum company in which half.the share capital of one million yen will be subscribed by the .Government and half by the public. The "new combination will be an amalgamation of existing companies under the guidance and protection of the Japanese Government.