FAR EAST “SCARE”

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1941, Page 8

FAR EAST “SCARE”

DEPRECATED BY PRESS ' "■ ' j '■ I .. . . . , . COMMENTS IN AUSTRALIA [-BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.! . SYDNEY, February 16. The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr. A. W. Fadden) said that the tone' of all cable messages from overseas had been quiet since Friday. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. J. Curtin) said he accepted full responsibility for the Commonwealth War Council’s dramatic declaration on Thursday. The Sydney “Sunday Sun, in a leading article commenting on the alarmist situation created by the War Advisory Council’s attitude on Thursday, says: “The people would like to know the basis on which the War Council’s warning was issued.. They also would like to know why, to heighten the effect of the council s announcement, a conference of defence chiefs already convened some days before was given the appearance of a sudden and urgent call due t® a mysterious cablegram which fed like a bombshell into the War Council.” The “Sunday Sun” adds: “The council appealed to the people to keep calm, but in view of the circumstances the Australian people may well appeal to its leaders also to keep calm.” Washington messages say that tne United States Secretary of State (Mr. Cordell Hull), the British Ambassador (Lord Halifax), and the Australian Minister (Mr. R. G. Casey), conferred yesterday for 40 minutes. Lord Halifax, leaving the conference, said that they had discussed Pacific matters and other subjects of mutual interest. He asserted that the British at many places in the Far East “have been increasing thenforces, and quite substantially.’ When asked whether the position in the Far East had deteriorated in the last few days, Lord Halifax answered: “I would not say that. He added: “It is a part of the world in which we are all interested.” Asked whether it was fair to assume that Britain was interested in keeping things in the Pacific from “going to pieces," he answered: “We have been working at that .all along.” Meanwhile, the Netherlands Minister in Washington (Dr. A. Loudon), after conferring with Mr. Hull, told newspapermen that the Netherlands East Indies would “resist any force,” adding: “That is our fundamentalpolicy.”

JAPANESE STATEMENT. EFFORTS TO PREVENT WAR. LONDON, February 15. The Japanese Cabinet Information Bureau has issued a statement in an effort to reassure Japanese residents on the American continent, declaring that both Japan and the United States were doing everything in their power, to prevent war. The statement added: “It is true that the situation gives cause for some concern, but it is unwarrantable to jump to the conclusion that the situation between the two coun - tries will be overtaken by the worst eventuality, such as war.” The statement attributed the “aggravated situation” to “the ulterior motives of some foreign elements."

Presenting his credentials- yesterday to Mr. Roosevelt, the new Japanese Ambassador to the United States (Admiral Nomura) said: “Re.cent developments in JapaneseAmerican relations have unfortunately been such as to cause considerable concern on both sides of the ocean. It is more than ever necessary to bring about a better understanding of each other’s position in order to secure the interests and wellbeing of our countries, thereto}' preserving peace iq the Pacific and maintaining our traditional friendship. I am resolved to do all possible to this end, and I hope my endeavours will merit your confidence and be in accord with the high privilege of your co-operation.” Mr. Roosevelt agreed that developments were a cause of concern, and added: “I welcome your assurance of your efforts to secure a better understanding. You may be sure that I and other officials are ready at all times to facilitate in every appropriate and practicable way your duties.”

Members of the United States House of Representatives Naval Committee, which heard evidence from the Chief of Naval Operations (Admiral H. R. Stark) on the bill to strengthen Pacific defences, said that Admiral Stark did not seem “as worried as one might believe” over Japanese moves in the Far East.

It is reported from Washington that American Consulates in the Far East have been instructed to authorise American vessels to take on extra passengers to speed up the evacuation of American citizens from the Far East. The Consulates were instructed to issue emergency certificates permitting travellers to be accommodated in parts of ships not ordinarily used for passengers.

MR. ROOSEVELT CRITICISED. SHANGHAI, February 15. The Japanese Army’s newspaper, “Sinshunpao,” commenting on President Roosevelt’s remarks on the Far East, characterised Mr. Roosevelt as “a hideous devil in the world’s greatest tragedy.” It says: “Under the cloak of justice, President Roosevelt is grabbing as much as he can in an effort to satisfy an avaricious stomach, and is leading the United States to the battle field.”

Wang Ching Wei’s paper, “Central China Daily News,” comments that “President Roosevelt’s attitude, if continued, will get him what he is groping for—a complete collapse of the Anglo-American interests in the Pacific.”

NAVAL ASSISTANT-SECRETARY. WASHINGTON, February 14. Mr. Roosevelt has nominated Mr. Ralph A. Bard as Assistant-Secretary of the Navy. NAVAL MOVEMENTS. LONDON, February 15. The Saigon correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain reported yesterday that Japanese newspaper correspondents declared that Japanese warships were patrolling the Indo-China coast as far as Bangkok as a precaution against possible developments in these waters. Japan was expecting Germany to attempt to invade Britain, on which

Japan would move against British and American interests in the Orient, and also against the .Netherlands East Indies, first attacking Singapore. Chinese newspapers report that a Japanese naval squadron has taken up a position off the coast of French Indo-.China, In Chungking it is felt that the Japanese are extremely wary of making any move to the south until they, are assured that Germany and Italy can disentagle themselves'from their difficulties in Europe.

ANTI-BRITI-SH ALLEGATIONS. TOKIO, February 16. The Bangkok correspondent of the newspaper “Yomiuri” reports that the British are negotiating a secret military agreement with Chungking to obstruct- Japan’s southward advance. The agreement includes the establishment of a Chungking-Singa-pore joint defence line against Japan’s southward moves, and also increased- American munition supplies to Chungking, via the Burma route. The Bangkok correspondent ot “Nichi Nichi” reports that the British are concentrating 20,000 troops on the Malay and Burma borders, which he describes as a mounting threat to. Thailand.

BATAVIAN RUMOURS. LONDON, February 16. It is* reported from Batavia that rumours of a Japanese ultimatum to Batavia arising out of the recall of Dutch ships are officially denied. Negotiations are at present marking time, for which reason the situation is considered unchanged. It is officially stated that the order sending Dutch ships to neutral ports was withdrawn. There is no explanation.

MALAYAN WATERS MINED. LONDON, February 16. The British Government has announced the laying of mines in Malayan waters, and has broadcast a warning to shipping, defining the areas unsafe for navigation. Vessels must, apply to Singapore for a sate conduct.

THAILAND NOT INVOLVED? (Recd. Feb. 17, 11.20 a.m.). BANGKOK, February 16. The British Legation has advised British women and children to leave the country as soon as possible. A Government communique advises the population to remain calm, and says that, the tension in the Far East does not threaten to involve Thailand.

BRITONS IN CHINA. (Recd. Feb. 17, 11.20 a.m.). SHANGHAI, February 16. The British Embassy has reiterated the advice given in October to nationals, who have no good reason for remaining, that they should consider the advisability of leaving occupied China. It will almost certainly be impossible to provide special facilities for departure at short notice, therefore earliest booking is advised.

JAPAN AND SOVIET. MR. MATSUOKA’S VIEWS. LONDON, February 14. Replying in the Japanese Diet to members’ suggestions for the conclusion of a non-aggression pact with Russia in view of “Japan’s inability to obtain German and Italian help in the event of a Russo-Japanese war,” the Foreign Minister (Mr. Matsuoka) said “We are doing everything possible to adjust Russian-Japanese relations, but the Soviet is slow-tem-pered. and for this reason it is taboo for us to become impatient in dealing with them.” Mr. Matsuoka promised a revision of Article V of ■ the Rome-Berlin-Tokio Pact “if there is danger of our relations with the Soviet being overtaken by the worst eventuality.” Ho said that misgivings about the blocking of German and Italian aid, to Japan in the event of a RussianJapanese war were understandable, but Article V, when it was formulated, envisaged an adjustment of all Russian-Japanese difficulties. (Article V of the Rome-Bsrlin-Tokio Pact says: “Germany, Italy and Japan affirm that the aforesaid terms do not in any way affect the political status which exists at present as between the three contracting parties atid Soviet Russia.”) Mr. Matsuoka added: “The atmosphere is favourable for an adjustment of relations, because the Soviet seems 1o have recognised Japan’s true intentions to settle her differences in earnest. Russia has also taken the same attitude by accelerating the conclusion of a commercial pact, which was hopeless last year.” When one member of the Diet asked whether relations with Russia might not be improved by ending the anti-Comintern Pact, Mr. Matsuoka said that the pact was directed not against Russia, but against Communist activities throughout the world.

Another member had drawn attention to the pact with the Axis Powers, which did not affect relations with the Soviet, but contained no provision for German and Italian help if Japan should become involved in war with Russia. While the new Japanese Ambassador to the United States (Admiral Nomura) was presenting his credentials to Mr. Roosevelt, the new Japanese envoy to Germany made a statement in Moscow about relations between Russia and Japan. He said relations between Japan and Russia were bound to improve because of the good relations between Germany and Russia and the pact between Germany and Japan.

DUTCH BROADCAST LONDON, February 15. The Dutch Government, in a broadcast from London, denied all the reports that Dutch merchantmen in the Far East had. been ordered to go to neutral ports, or that Japan has demanded naval and ah' bases in the East Indies. The Dutch Government described the situation in Japan as obscure. It stated: “Some extremists tried to induce the Government to undertake armed expansion. On the contrary, many prominent Japanese are well aware that this extremist course would, be extremely hazardous.”

The Dutch broadcast concluded: “Fellow countrymen in our occupied Motherland: The peoples of the Dutch East Indies have asked us to tell you to beware of Dr. Goebbels’ false rumours. You may be assured that we are .fully prepared for any emergency.”