CAREFUL WATCH ON SITUATION

Evening Star, Issue 23811, 15 February 1941, Page 11

CAREFUL WATCH ON SITUATION

NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS ANOTHER WAR OF NERVES 7 " Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 14. (Received February 15, at noon.) Authoritative quarters declared that while the Far Eastern situation lias been watched with growing attention for some time and is still being carefully watched there are no new developments to justify some of the exaggerated and unsubstantiated reports lately published. A message from Washington says that when Admiral Nomura presented his credentials President Roosevelt told him: “There are developments in relations between the United States and Japan which cause concern.” Admiral Nomura pledged that he would do all in his power to bring about a better understanding. Senator Wiley asked the Senate to summon Mr Hull to an extraordinary closed session to report confidentially on the Far Eastern situation. Senator Wiley said ,he believed there would be so much dynamite in the world situation in the next few days that his suggestion should gain approval. He said he wanted to know “ whether the Tripartite Powers were engaged in another war of nerves, or whether a synchronised and co-ordinated movement was in progress whereby Hitler will open a spring offensive and Japan will move against the British and, perhaps, also against American interests.” The House Naval Committee decided to call Admiral Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, to testify secretly on the navy’s request for 8,800,000 dollars for air bases in Samoa. In Shanghai the Japanese army spokesman said: “ Japan does not wish to disturb the waves of the Pacific. However, if strong pressure were applied we would be compelled to take certain measures.” He believed Japan would strive until the last moment to preserve peace, and said he believed these sentiments were not only his, but of all Japanese. The American Consulate in Hongkong is circularising 2,000 Americans concerning evacuation advice from Washington.

JAPAN CONFIDENT

NO TROUBLE EXPECTED WITH AUSTRALIA TOKIO, February 14. (Received February 15, at 10 a.m.) Apparently indicating that Japan does not expect trouble with Australia, Mr Ishii said: “ We are sending a very able envoy there.” He added that Mr Kawai was expected to leave Japan on February 28. Mr Ishii declined to comment on the relative Guam-Tutila fortifications, asserting; “ That is a very delicate question.”

AMERICANS LEAVING JAPAN

OVER HALF ALREADY DEPARTED TOKIO, February 14. (Received February 15, at 9.35 a.m.) Scores of Americans who have been delaying evacuation have booked their passages as the result -of the consulate’s renewed urgings. The movement is most noticeable among missionaries and others who, due to long residence, previously .hesitated to sever connections. A United Press survey shows that over half the number of Americans normally resident in the Japanese Empire have already departed, leaving the following Occidental Americans:—sso men, 380 women, and 120 children.

ATLANTIC BASES

IMMEDIATE FORTIFICATION WASHINGTON, February 14. The Under-Secretary for War, Mr W. E. Patterson, announced that 137,096,000 dollars’ worth of contracts had been negotiated for an immediate start in fortifying six of the Atlantic bases leased from Britain.

RAW SAUSAGE MEAT

CAUSE OF MYSTERIOUS DISEASE LONDON, February 13. The ‘ Lancet ’ states that 500 people in the Wolverhampton area and at Harpenden are suffering from a mystery disease called trichiniasis, which is the result of eating raw pork sausages. Women are the principal sufferers. Many of them spread raw sausage paste on bread" as a tasty, portable lunch to take to work. Inquiries in Wolverhampton reveal that there is a raw sausage eaten in at least half the working-class households.

WIDE POWERS -

COMMONWEALTH GOAL BOARD CANBERRA, February 14. The appointment of a Commonwealth Coal Board with the widest powers to govern the supply, disposition and consumption of coal, was announced by the Minister of Supply. Senator M'Brido. The hoard was set up to ensure adequate provision of coal throughout Australia, and it will cooperate with the Shipping Control Board. 1