MILITARY AGREEMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1941, Page 7

MILITARY AGREEMENT

BRITAIN AND CHUNGKING *""T ■— TO CHECKMATE JAPAN [BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, February 17.

The Bangkok correspondent of the Tokio newspaper “Yomiuri” reports that the British are negotiating a secret military agreement with Chungking to obstruct Japan’s southward advance.

The correspondent says that the agreement includes the establishment of ‘a Chungking-Singapore joint defence line against Japan’s southward moves, and also increased American munition supplies to Chungking via the Burma route. It also provides for the enlistment of Chinese in the South Seas in the British Army.

CHUNGKING, February 17.

The British Minister, Mr. Currie, conferred with Marshal Chiang Kai Shek all day on . Sunday. Madame Chiang was present.

PRESS COMMENT. WASHINGTON, February 17. Japanese newspaper comment on the situation in the Pacific states that Japan’s attitude has been forced upon her by British and American assistance to the Chungking regime and antagonism towards Japan. It adds that Britain and Australia will see that the southern movements of the Japanese Navy began when it was seen that there was a necessity for Japan to give an indication of her deep interest in developments, in the East Asian, sphere . Japan’s big move in the south would be made m concert with the opening of the German Spring offensive. So long as America hinders Japan’s advance to the south she will encounter Japan’s opposition in the Far East. Reports to Washington from Tokio say that the Emperor had a special audience with the Foreign Minister (Mr. Matsuoka) and afterwards with the Minister for War (LieutenantGeneral Tojo). It is pointed out in London that if the report is confirmed it is significant, as it is an unusual procedure for the Emperor to receive the Foreign Minister and War Minister separately.

-PEACEFUL NEGOTIATIONS.”

TOKIO, February 17.

The Japanese policy is to seek the solution of “the life and death problem” of her interests in the South Seas, and to do so “through peaceful negotiations to the very last,” declared Foreign Vice-Minister, Mr. Ohashi, to the Audit Committee of the Lower House. xx , . . . Mr. Ohashi pointed out that, to attempt to achieve their aims through armed force would bring about destruction, “with unfavourable effects on Japan.” . According to the Domei Agency, Mr. Ohashi’s reference to increasing pres-1 sure was interpreted to mean the re-, ported concentration of British troops i near the Thai border. Simultaneously, I Mr. Ohashi delivered what observers said may have been a hint against increased American naval forces m Manila, saying: “Japan is interested in the Philippines as a friendly neighbour, and therefore she desires that the islands will not endanger Japan in future.” Mr. Ohashi said that the JapaneseNetherlands East Indies economic conference would reopen soon at Ba~ tavia. The conversations were suspended for some time, because the “Dutch attitude was at first unauspicious, and misleading reports led to increased tension in the East Indies.

JAPANESE DIVISIONS. CHUNGKING, February 16. The Central News, which is the agency of the Central Chinese Government, claimed to have authoritative information, to-day, that six Japanese divisions are now stationed at Canton, Hainan Island, French Indo-China, and the Spratley Islands; also four divisions in Formosa. The latter include two fresh divisions from Japan, and one from Manchukuo.

GERMAN INFLUENCE.

LONDON, February 17

A warning that German influence is being exerted on the Japanese newspapers is given by a writer in the “Sunday Times.” He says that Hitler’s propaganda in Japan has cost him nothing but promises, which he has continually broken without any feeling of conscience. Indeed he has already broken one of his promises to Japan by signing the pact with Russia in negation of the terms of the anti-Comintern agreement, to which Japan is a signatory. Japan, in spite of this breach by Hitler, joined the Axis pact. The writer adds that Hitler’s reason for stirring up trouble in Japan is to divert to the Far East American war equipment intended for Britain.

MR. MATSUOKA’S REQUEST.

TOKIO, February 17.

The Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Matsuoka, asked the public for support for the importation of German technicians and for other exceptional undertakings of the Joint Econ-omic-Military Commission. Such undertaking he termed as necessary from the viewpoint of the construction of the “Greater East Asia Coprosperity Sphere.”

ADVICE TO U.S.A. WASHINGTON, February 17. Mr. Paul V. McNutt, a supporter of the New Deal, and a former Governor of the Philippine Islands, in a radio address, urged the United States to adopt a strong policy in the Far East. He declared, that the war between China and Japan had now developed the character of a preliminary offensive against the outer defences of the Philippines. ( “I would like to see the Philippines fortified,” he said, “because the decision not to fortify the islands was made before the tempo of world affairs had accelerated.”

FOREIGNERS REMAIN CALM. TOKIO, February 17. Despite advice given them to evacuate Japan, British subjects and Americans, numbering over 1000 in Tokio, show no signs of leaving Japan, states the “Hochi Shimbun.” It is understood that the British-

ers and Americans who have already returned home since September total only 140. The foreign companies are said to be carrying on as usual. AIR BASE AT SAIGON. SHANGHAI, February 16. Foreign military observers here assert that Japan has established the nucleus of a military air base at Saigon, the Indo-China capital. They state the. Japanese made no demands but simply sent Army crews ashore, from Japanese cruisers that are tied up at Saigon, and then landed bombers on Saigon’s modern and wellequipped airport. Colonel Ryoji Koike, Chief of Staff of the Japanese forces in IndoChina, has arrived to take over the direction of Japanese activities .in southern Indo-China, replacing Major-General Raishiro Sumita.

MINEFIELDS LAID. SINGAPORE, February 16. The Government of the Malay States has announced that the area off the east coast of Johore is dangerous to navigation. This area is bounded on the north by parallel 002 degrees 44 minutes north; on the east by meridian 104 degrees 30 minutes east; on the south by parallel 001 degrees 35 minutes north; and on the west coast of Malaya. Mines will be laid in the area without further notice. Any vessels withing to pass must apply to the Singapore Naval authoritiees for the route. Vessels will disi regard these instructions at . theix own risk.