ANTI-COMINTERN PACT

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 February 1939, Page 8

ANTI-COMINTERN PACT

JAPAN’S LIMITED SUPPORT.

[BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.]

(Received February B,'l p.m.) LONDON, February 7. “The Times’s” Tokio correspondent says: Japan is unlikely. to welcome the proposals for expanding, the antiComintern Pact into a military alliance. , , . When the Pact was concluded, Japan declared she had no intention of becoming involved in Europe’s ideological quarrels. This intention has not been lessened by events like the Italian colonial claims, which tend to become a sharp confrontation of the anti-Comintern countries against the Democracies. An agreement enabling the adherents to support each other, when necessary, or opportune, suits Japan better than an alliance, (which would attach her to the chariot wheels of her ideological allies. Hope of restoring good relations with England and America has not been abandoned. Influential circles oppose the irrevocable closing of the door to this. It is realised that an alliance with the Totalitarians would be poor compensation for the naval Powers’ hostility.

Possibly the initiative for strengthening the' anti-Comintern Pact camo from Europe, but Prince Konoye. in his speech before, his resignation, favoured the strengthening.

ITALIAN-RUSSIAN TRADE

ROME, February 7. ’An Italian-Soviet, treaty has been signed, renewing commercial relations which have been at a stand still since 1936. It is hoped the trade will total £10,000,000 yearly. The total value of Italy’s foreign trade decreased by 12 per cent, in 1938. The figures show that imports totalled 121. millions sterling, compared with 151 millions, and exports SS millions, compared with 87. The adverse trade balance has been reduced.