JAPAN’S CHANGED FRONT

Evening Star, Issue 23355, 26 August 1939, Page 16

JAPAN’S CHANGED FRONT

RESULT OF RUSSO-GERMAN PACT GO-OPERATION WITH BRITAIN HOPED FOR SHANGHAI, August 25. The changed Japanese attitude to Britain as shown during the last few days is strikingly reflected in the Japanese army’s newspaper, ‘ Sinshun Pao, 1 which says in a leader that it hopes England will co-operate with Japan, 4t since the situation has now radically changed.” TOKIO AND EUROPEAN SITUATION NEW FORMULA ABANDONED TOKIO, August 25. (Received August 26, at 11 a.m.) The Domei News Agency says the Cabinet meeting decided to protest to Germany against the Russo-German pact as an infringement of the spirit and letter of the anti-Comintern agreement. The agency adds that the new formula for dealing with the European situation has been definitely abandoned. RUSSIA OFFERS JAPAN A PACT TOKIO, August 25. (Received August 26, at 8 a.m.) The ‘ Kokumin Shimbun * states that Russia offered to arrange a settlement of the Manchukuo-Mongol border quarrel, also that the Soviet Embassy suggested a Russo-Japanese non-aggres-sion Pact to the Japanese Foreign Office. ANGER AGAINST GERMANY INCREASING TOKIO, August 25. (Received August 26, at 8 a.m.) Japan’s anger against Germany is increasing. The newspapers agree that the anti-comintern Pact is dead. ’The Official Spokesman in Tokio said the prominent Japanese invited to the Nuremburg Congress will now attend in a private capacity, not as representatives of the Government. He added that Sir Robert Craigie’s return to Tokio from hia holiday had reopened the way for negotiations, but Japan’s attitude was unchanged. The ‘ Kukomin Shimbun 1 declares that Italy and Germany are no longer Japan’s allies. Other papers agree that the signing of the Russian Pact is without excuse. STRONG PROTEST TO BERLIN BERLIN, August 25. (Received August 26, at 8 a.m.) An unconfirmed report states that Japan has protested strongly to Germany regarding the signing of the uonaggression pact. PARTITION OF POLAND A REPORT FROM BERLIN LONDON, August 25. A Berlin message says it is reported from a reliable source, which must, however, be treated with reserve, that Germany and Russia have agreed on partition of a big slice of land, with Russia taking in some of the eastern districts and Germany securing the Corridor, Danzig and West Silesia. If Rumania does not remain neutral Russia will occupy Bessarabia. The remainder of Poland would form a sort of protectorate under Russo-German direction. PAUCITY OF NEWS RESULT OF DEPARTURE OF JOURNALISTS LONDON, August 25. (Received August 26, at 8 a.m.) Mr Chamberlain was at his desk at 7 a.m. after a few hours’ sleep. Mr Eden was one of the first callers, then Lord Halifax and Lord Cadogan. lb is feared that the departure of journalists from Berlin will result in a serious falling off of news. There has been an ominous silence due to the congestion of lines. There is now a throe-hours’ delay. COMMUNIST PAPER CONFISCATED PARIS, August 25. (Received August 26, at 10 a.m.) The police confiscated the Communist newspaper ‘ Ce Soir,’ believed to be on account of its lauding the RussianGerman agreement. PARTY BREAKING UP PARIS, August 25. (Received August 26, at 10 a.m.) The French Communist Party is reported to be breaking up. Several leaders have resigned. After the police occupation of the ‘Ce Soir ’ building Communist headquarters were searched. GERMAN JOURNALISTS LEAVING PARIS PARIS, August 25. (Received August 20, at 10 a.m.) The German journalists have . begun jto leave.

COMMANDEERED BY ADMIRALTY SYDNEY, August 25. (Received August 26, at 8 a.m.) The Moretou Bay, now in Melbourne, has been commandeered by the British Admiralty. The CO passengers have disembarked and the ship is returning to Sydney awaiting instructions. i, DANISH FRONTIER PREPARATIONS ON GERMAN SIDE COPENHAGEN, August 25. (Received August 26, at 1.30 p.m.) The newspaper ‘ Politiken ’ says that the western part of the Danish-German frontier zone south of Schleswig is occupied on the German side by civilians equipped with military caps and rifles. DIPLOMATS CONGREGATE NOW IN EMBASSY BUILDING PARIS, August 25. (Received August 26, at 10.30 a.m.i Members of the German diplomatic staff hitherto housed elsewhere have all moved into the Embassy buildings. LONDON BUILDINGS SANDBAGGED TERRITORIALS IN FULL WAR EQUIPMENT (Independent Cable Service.) LONDON, August 25. (Received August 26, at 1.30 p.m.) Territorials are leaving London depots in full war equipment, in which the new anti-aircraft guns are prominent. Telephones are choked. The heaviest delays occur on the long-distance lines, while it is increasingly difficult to raise the Continent. Many big London buildings, including the Mansion House, are sandbagged. Hundreds of members of the women’s auxiliary army have been called up. Official circles in London said they “ immensely appreciate ” President Roosevelt’s initiative and regarded it as a magnificent effort to save peace at the eleventh hour. AMERICAN DIVISION TEN THOUSAND WOULD VOLUNTEER PARIS, August 25. (Received August 26, at 12.15 p.m.) Colonel Charles Sweeny, who organised American volunteers in 1914, stated that an American infantry division of 10,000 men would enter the war on the side of the Allies without delay in the event of war. ALL LEAVE STOPPED IN CANADA OTTAWA, August 25. (Received August 26, at 11.35 a.m.) The Defence Minister, Mr Mackenzie, has cancelled all leave for the permanent forces—4,ooo army, 3,000 air force, 2,000 navy. BERMUDA PROCLAIMS STATE OF EMERGENCY HAMILTON (Bermuda), August 25. (Received August 26, at 11.15 a.m.) A state of emergency was proclaimed after an Act was rushed through the Legislature granting the Acting Governor (Major A. Dutton) fu|l powers. ARGENTINE BANKS FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEALINGS SUSPENDED BUENOS AIRES, August 25. (Received August 26, at 1.30 p.m.) The banks have suspended all foreign exchange dealings.

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MEASURES A LINER RECALLED SYDNEY, August 25. Precautionary defence measures have been taken by the Commonwealth Government, and the sailing of some large liners for overseas has been cancelled. The Moreton Bay, which left for London to-day, has been recalled by radio. Safety men have been posted at all largo reservoirs and bridges, including the harbour bridge. The whole of the arsenical supplies have been commandeered. The Prime Minister, Mr R. G. Menzies, said that these measures had been taken on the principle that it is better to be sure than sorry. He urged the people to . remain calm, and assured them that the defence machinery was working perfectly. Ho added that powerful influences were abroad and were working for peace, and the best contribution the Australian public could make was to go about their affairs in normal fashion. The information he had from overseas did not warrant a proclamation declaring the existence of “ danger of war.” Mr Meuzies declared that absorption of Poland would lead to attacks on smaller European countries on one ground or another until a vast domination of force was established. Australia, he said, was involved in the pledges of Britain and France, because in plain English, the defeat of Britain would be the destruction or defeat of the British Empire. “ I say with full knowledge of all official communications, that the conduct in these matters by the British Government has been characterised by wonderful patience, great self-control, and a genuine desire for peace. Australia must co-operate in the most effective way with other British countries in honouring the great British guarantee.” WAR FOOTING IN FEW HOURS SYDNEY, August 26. (Received August 26, at noon.) Comprehensive power's to safeguard the national interests have been taken by the Commonwealth Government in a series of national security regulations promulgated at Canberra at midnight. The steps to prepare Australia for an emergency have been intensified, and it is stated that the country can now be placed on a war footing in a few hours. The New South Wales State authorities have taken precautions to guard against all possibilities. All leave has been cancelled in the Navy, Garrison Artillery, and police. More than 40,000 people have enrolled under the national emergency scheme and have been warned to be prepared for service, and about 12,000 have actually been called up for service. The militia are guarding the Bunnerong power station, railway bridges, and the. industries and wharves at Port Kembla. MARKET REACTIONS EARLIER LOSSES FULLY RECOVERED OPTIMISM IN BERLIN LONDON, August 25. (Received 'August 26, at 1.30 p.m.) For the second time in 12 months a crisis has subjected the city’s financial machinery to an almost intolerable strain, but once again it emerged creditably from the test. Markets closed almost cheerfully, fully recovering yesterday’s losses. Any general comparison of prices over the week, however, is meaningless. An assessment of the outlook is similarly impossible. The Berlin Bourse has boomed in the last day or two, in the belief that a general peace settlement is likely to he to Germany’s advantage. The Paris Bourse is very active, with spirited bidding, as the international result of the fall of the franc and sterling. The excitement is gradually spreading, other sections closing in an almost hoomlike atmosphere.

BETTER TONE IN NEW YORK . SUBSTANTIAL ADVANCES RECEIVED NEW YORK, August 25. (Received August 2(i, at 1.30 p.m.) Stocks recovered to-day on the growing hopes of a peaceful settlement in Europe. The New York market advanced quietly by 1 to 4 points. Wheat slumped two cents on Chicago and 31 on Winnipeg. The Treasury declared that the Bri-tish-French-American tripartite agreement is unaffected by the British withdrawal of the official support of sterling but worry over the outcome is spreading. Sterling to-night slumped to 4.40 i.