JAPAN AND U.S.A.

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 January 1941, Page 8

JAPAN AND U.S.A.

WAR PROSPECTS DISCUSSED “IMMEDIATE EXPLOSION” [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Received January 17, 10 a.m.) TOKIO, January 16. “Asahi Shimbun,” in a leading article says: “The Lusitania affair led the United States to participate in the last European war. However, two years intervened between the outbreak of the war and United States participation, but, at present, the situation is more charged with danger of an immediate explosion, on account of the stage having been perfectly set. If a single match is set alight, all will burst into flame. Although it is apparent that the United States’ prime objective is .to assist Britain, it is also taking up the cudgels on behalf of the democracies fighting totalitarian Powers. In this grandiose act of its own, the United States includes even Asia and Australia within its sphere of activity, and undertakes to extend assistance to China and Greece as well. The fact should not be overlooked that the United States has been conducting latent measures behind the scene of diplomatic manoeuvres, for means of assisting Britain and obstructing the Axis.”

“Yomiuri” said: “If the Lend-or-Lease Bill passes Congress unrevised, then ’Congress, which has the power to declare war, would openly have challenged the Axis. We should be sufficiently prepared, as a partner in the Axis, for all possible developments.”

ANTI-U.S.A. CAMPAIGN. (Received January 17, 12.15 p.m.) TOKIO, January 16. In an effort to drive home to the Japanese people the mounting danger of a conflict in the Pacific, as the consequences of “increasing overt American hostility towards Japan, Germany and Italy,” the National Service Association is launching a nation-wide series of lecture meetings. The Government’s Information Board will also assist the movement, to rally public opinion to the support of the Government’s determination to attain the goal of establishing a new order in East Asia, regardless of the sacrifices which such a course would require. EXPANSION POLICY. LONDON, January 15. A manifesto states that the people of South-Eastern Asia will not submit to exploitation of their birthright. It is addressed to the 5,000,000 people of Annam, the East Indies, the Malay Peninsula, Thailand, and the Philippines. A mass meeting of a Japanese league for expansion in the south is to be held in Tokio shortly. The representatives will include nine members of the House of Peers, seven members of the House of Representatives, and retired naval and army officers.

BRITAIN AND INDO-CHINA. (Received January 17, 11 a.m.) TOKIO, January 16. Leading newspapers raise a unanimous chorus of concern regarding the drift of developments in southeastern Asia. Alleging British and American “manoeuvres” to dominate IndoChina and Siam, . and to block Japan’s prosperity in that sphere, “Hochi” warns those countries to be on their guard. The Press views reports of the resumption of commerce between France and Indo-China as evidence of a secret understanding with Britain. “Asahi” says that badly-needed goods are pouring in to Haiphong, via Macao, from Hong Kong. “It is felt that Britain is operating behind the Indo-China Government. At least, no such thing would be possible without Indo-China’s co-operation with Britain.”

MR. HULL’S WARNING. LONDON, January 15. In a survey of world affairs, the United States Secretary of State (Mr. Cordell Hull) offered strong opposition to Japan’s policy in the East. This so-called policy, of the new order meant domination by one nation to the exclusion of legitimate interests of others, he said. He claimed that the United States had several times sought to show Japan that her interests would be better served by the maintenance of better relations between herself and the United States. ANGLO-CHINESE TRADE. (Received January 17, 12.20 p.m-.) SHANGHAI, January 16. Chinese newspapers report that a new Sino-British trade agreement, which will be signed at Chungking in a few days, far exceeds the aggregate value of the recent Sino-So-viet agreement.