"VERY STUPID"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 51, 1 March 1941, Page 10

"VERY STUPID"

JAPANESErILS. WAR

SIGNIFICANT COMMENT

AIDE TO NOMURA

NO CONFLICT "UNLESS—"

(By- Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received .March 1, 2 p.m.) TOKIO, February 23. Colonel Takeo Iwakuro, adviser to the War Minister, sails for the United States on March 6 as special aide to the ambassador, Admiral Nomura. He will be accompanied by Colonel Kenkichi Skinjo as a member of the Japanese purchasing commission.

Colonel Iwakuro, in an interview, said: "Military conflict the United States and Japan would be one of the most stupid events that could occur. The practice of bluffing by irresponsible elements both in Japan and ill America is the chief, basic reason for the present critical situation."

"Well-informed circles believe ' that Colonel Iwakuro's remarks were officially inspired because he is known as an adamant militarist. Colonel Iwakuro asserted that even though Japan's needs of' raw materials from the south. Pacific are vital, he definitely believed that Japan would not resort to force. •

• .He considered that the situation in the Far East would not lead to open conflict unless the United • States resorted to military operations "after having tortured Japan by an undeclared economic war."