OIL FOR JAPAN

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 December 1940, Page 7

OIL FOR JAPAN

PRESSURE ON EAST INDIES

DUTCH TO RESIST

[BY CABLE,—PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.]

NEW YORK, December 26.

The Batavia correspondent of the “New York Times” says officials are certain the question of oil exports from the Netherlands East Indies to Japan will be reopened with the arrival of Mr. Kenkichi Yoshizawa, a former Japanese Foreign Minister and the new members of Japan’s socalled economic-mission. The departing Consul-General (Mr. O. Saito), .openly declared that Japan was very dissatisfied with the oil agreement made by Mr. Kobayashi last Autumn, adding that it was certain the question would be re-opened, while exports of rubber, tin, manganese, and other war necessities acutely needed by Japan and Germany would be a secondary consideration.

The correspondent adds that the Dutch will stoutly resist Japanese demands for a reconsideration of the oil allotment, and also demands for essential war materials beyond Japan’s needs. .If Japan’s pressure becomes intolerable, the negotiations will be broken off, and details of the demands exerting pressure, will be publicised throughout the world. English and American companies operating oilfields and refineries under Government concessions have already made long-term contracts to deliver their entire outputs of aviation gasoline and crude oil to Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, and the Straits Settlement. The concessions prescribe that the Netherlands have the first call on production “only in the event of a national emergency.” It might technically be claimed that Japanese pressure could be termed a national emergency, but the Netherlands refuse to do so, because of the determination not to aid the Axis. In particular, Japan is irked by the provisions of the original oil agreement, under which she is forced to provide her own tankers and to pay for purchases in American dollars. STEEL SHORTAGE. (Received December 28, 9.20 a.m.) TOKIO, December 27. Cabinet directed a revision of material resources and a mobilisation plan, for the last quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, to counteract United States’ embargoes and the pressure on trade with British Crown Colonies. It requires an additional steel output, new rice supply plan, intensive and extensive development of ore deposits, enabling the elimination of dependence on foreign scrap, and purchases of high grade coal from China and Manchukuo. The Planning Board President, Naoki Hoshino, stressed the importance of speeding up the installation of .ore. processing machinery at. the existing blast’ furnaces. “Optimism is unwarranted at the moment when Japan is on the verge of the fifth year of the China affair, and demands steel hugely-for ■national Me--fence and other purposes.”' "’ ■ '

JAPANESE TROUBLES.

LONDON, December 27.

The Moscow radio states that Japanese troops in China have been driven back towards Nanchang. Chinese irregulars are giving the Japanese trouble in Hainan Island. War materials worth 3,000,000 dollars are reported to have reached China last week by way of the Burma road.

A report of a mutiny of Japanese troops in China on December 21 is also quoted by the Moscow radio from a Shanghai newspaper, which stated that there had been disturbances in Honan Province. Japanese detachments refused to go on with the war against China and refused to obey orders. Several Japanese officials are reported to have been assassinated. The Moscow radio also alleges that desertions from the conscript army of Mr Wang Ching-wei, the Japanese puppet ruler, are so numerous that only vestiges of the force remain.- The men have deserted to Marshal Chiang In Shanghai labour trouble is spreading, and it is estimated that 10,000 people have now refused work. Quoting a Chungking newspaper, the Moscow radio says Japanese oppression in 'lnner Mongolia is increasing. Taxation is oppressive, and the Japanese control of trade is such that only Chinese who support the Japanese are able to buy. HONG KONG’S STRENGTH. (Recd. Dec. 28, 9.30 a.m.). HONG KONG, December 27. Sir R. Brooke-Popham has arrived, and toured the defences. He stated: “Anyone who thinks that Hong Kong can be captured in three or four days, has got an erroneous impression.” FRENCH-THAI DISPUTE. (Received December 28, 11.55 a.m.) VICHY, December 27. It is reliably reported that. France plans to send a delegation from IndoChina to Bangkok, in an effort to settle the frontier dispute. France has rejected Japan’s offer to mediate, declaring that she will not accept third-party mediation.