U.S. AID FREES NAVY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 31, 5 August 1941, Page 7

U.S. AID FREES NAVY

LONDON, August 4

Last night the Australian Navy Minister, Mr. W. M. Hughes, pointed out that the assistance the United States was giving Britain in the Atlantic would enable Britain to send a fleet to the Pacific if it were needed.

This statement has given satisfaction throughout Malaya, and a correspondent in Singapore says that the knowledge that the British Fleet is available has been a welcome reassurance.

Several correspondents describe the general confidence felt about the effort which the strong land and air forces in Malaya and Burma are fully capable of making.

It is pointed out in London that it is quite untrue to speak, as some reports have, about large numbers of troops being rushed' to the Thailand border.

The dispatch of forces in Singapore is purely defensive, and there is no indication of a major change having taken place.

Heavy Japanese pressure on Thailand continues to be maintained, obviously, in order to extract important economic concessions of vital war commodities.

Japanese-inspired reports that Thailand has recognised Manchukuo, however, are. untrue.

The suspension of sailings of Japanese ships to the United States was made without explanation.

Sharp attacks by the Japanese Press are still being made upon Britain and particularly on the United States. A typical comment comes from the "Japan Times." Dealing with "United States imperialism," it says: "Washington has extended its influence far from the New World into the territories of other people."

on Indo-China and a similar declaration by Japan would be welcome."