JAPAN TOTALITARIAN

Evening Star, Issue 23836, 17 March 1941, Page 3

JAPAN TOTALITARIAN

COUNTRY TO BE PATTERNED OH AXIS COUNTRIES GREATER EAST ASIA PLANS TOKIO, March 15. It is reliably stated that the “ Imperial Rule Assistance Association,” which the Government founded last year after the dissolution of political parties, will early in April start putting the country on a totalitarian basis, with a single political party functioning. It will be patterned basically on Axis countries. The 1 Asahi ’ said the association was merging the various Asia development organisations, and will found a “ Greater East Asia League ” on April 3, with the Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, presiding. In order to start a national movement for the establishment of a Government it advocated a “ Greater East Asia Co-prosperity sphere, with the official army, navy, and China Affairs Board co-operation.” GOLF COURSE TAKEN OVER. The Tokio golf course, described, like many others, as the world’s finest—its turf was imported from. Scotland—-is being taken over for army purposes, and the luxurious clubhouse will be converted into a hospital. The club’s membership included five Imperial princes. Nevertheless, the army considers that golf is not in keeping with the new national structure and the present emergency. MR MATSUOKA TO VISIT LONDON LONDON, March 14. The Ankara radio stated that the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr Matsuoka, it is reported, intends to visit London after Berlin and Rome. FRENCH FOOD SUPPLIES BRITAIN'S LIMITED CONCESSION REGARDED AS SIGN OF WEAKNESS GERMANY EXPLOITING THE POSITION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 14. The limited concession granted to the passage of the steamships, Gold Harbour and Exmouth, far from being regarded as a gesture of goodwill to unoccupied France, has been seized upon as a sign of weakness, and the starvation plea has "since been exploited to the full to serve a dual purpose in relieving Germany of some of her immediate food anxieties and distracting attention from the continued intensified system of German looting and other forms of exploitation of the occupied territories. ‘ The Spectator,’ discussing Admiral Darlan’s threat, says that the practicability of lifting the blockade raises important technical questions, and calls for a careful, unemotional examination of them. SUPPLIES FOR GERMANY. The journal the * New Statesman ’ says it is certain that of the supplies Britain now allows to enter Marseilles more than half has already been sent to Germany. It favours a counter to the. propaganda that comes through Admiral Dailan’s month by a request for his specific proposals, and suggests a statement on behalf of the British Government of its readiness to discuss all practical matters in consultation with the Governments of France and the United States. It is, however, emphatically declared in all quarters that the effectiveness of the blockade must not be permitted to suffer. PARTIAL BENEFIT TO FRANCE. •The comment of the Vichy correspondent of the ‘ Zuricher Zeitung ’ adds weight to these opinions. The correspondent states: “The economical situation in France in respect to wheat and grain is very serious, and it can, therefore, be understood why the Vichy Government should contemplate extraordinary measures, but on the other hand the French point of view is not quite correct, as the supplies of grain which might reach French ports in the Mediterranean despite the British blockade would only partly go to the benefit of France.”

BRITISH POLICY FIXED STIPULATIONS LAID DOWN LONDON, March 16. Tlie ‘ Sunday Times ’ understands thainihe British Government, after consultations with the United States, has decided not to oppose the food ships being sent to unoccupied France and Nortu Africa, provided; Firstly, that all food sent is consumed by the French population; secondly, that distribution is supervised by the American ' Red Cross, which is also entitled to watch the woods traffic from unoccupied to occupied France; thirdly, that Italians and Germans may no longer requisition cargoes arriving in unoccupied France from the French colonial empire; fourthly, that Vichy undertakes immediately to halt German infiltration in North Africa.

The quantity of food allowed to enter unoccupied France under this plan would be determined similarly to Spain and Portugal in relation to the normal food importing requirements in unoccupied France after taking into account local food production and also the population. Indirectly this system will benefit Germany because occupied France, which is the granary of unoccupied France, would not any *ouger be asked to supply Vichy's needs. The most important condition is that no more Germans should be allowed to enter North Africa to plan U-boat and air bases from which to attack our shipping.

BRITISH STOP FRENCH SHIP

RSME RADIO REPORT MADRID, March 15. The Rome radio states that Britain, ignoring Admiral Darlan’s warning, stopped another French merchantman loaded with food. HOPEFUL OF AGREEMENT WASHINGTON, March 10. (Received March 17, at 8 a.m.) The British Ambassador, Lord Halifax, to-day conferred with the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull. It is believed that they discussed general matters and also the question of sending food to unoccupied France. Later the French Ambassador, M. Henry Have, conferred with Mr Hull, after'which he said he was hopeful that some agreement could be reached permitting food to go to France under the control of American agents. ESPIONAGE ALLEGED MAN CHARGED IN BATAVIA TRIP FROM HOLLAND FINANCED BY BERLIN BATAVIA, March 15. The Intelligence Department arrested Mr “ A. 8.,” who is charged with espionage on behalf of the enemy. It is alleged that be travelled from occupied Holland, the expenses of his trip being provided by Berlin for securing economic, shipping movements, and other information. AMERICAN JOURNALIST ARRESTED IN GERMANY BERLIN, March 15. An American journalist, Richard Hottelot, .a member of the Berlin staff of the United Press of America, has been arrested on suspicion of espionage for an enemy Power. %

DEMOCRATIC IDEALS

VALUE OF FREE SPEECH i ' BRITAIN'S DAUNTLESS RESOLVE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 15. The value of free speech iu the war effort was stressed by the joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security, speaking at Huddersfield. Mr William Mabanc said that Britain claimed to be fighting for democracy, but it was no less true that democracy, being alive to the principle of Government, was fighting for Britain. “ Ships, guns, aeroplanes and all munitions of war and the men to use them,” he said, “ are the tangible and material things of war; and democracy is the great intangible, great imponderable thing that we can throw into the scale inevitably and certainly to bear the enemy down. Democracy in action has amazed the_ world. 1 have seen battle in the cities, but I have not heard a whimper. I have seen women, old men, and boys facing danger and carrying on with their duties with dauntless resolve. If help comes we will welcome it. If it does not come we will carry on. Hitler with his bombed cities shaking with unexpected terror would be a happy man if he could say the same.” Free speech and free criticism ns an instrument of democratic government was a spur to-aotion, said Mr Mabane. The rulers of Germany, on the other hand, were groping their way in a black-out of opinion they had themselves created and imposed. In Britain, if the audience did not like the performer, it hissed him off the stage. In Germany if the audience did not like the performer he was put into a concentration camp. HEAVY DEATH ROLL POWDER MAGAZINE EXPLODES MADRID, March 14. A powder magazine blew up at St. Seville, causing a number of casualties. Houses were destroyed and hundreds of windows were broken. The death roll is feared to total 50. while 480 were injured and 2,500 are homeless.