REBUFF IN INDIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20385, 23 October 1940, Page 7

REBUFF IN INDIES

DEMANDS FOR OIL ANSWER BY DUTCH CONTRACTS FOR SUPPLY ANNULMENT REFUSED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assm) (Reed. Oct. 23. 10 a.m.) BATAVIA, Oct. 22. It is understood that the Japanese demands that the Dutch East Indies oil contracts should be annulled in her favour have been rejected and therefore Japan is unlikely to get any considerable quantity of Netherlands oil unless the basis of negotiations is drastically changed It is learned that the only agreement so far reached is that the Dutch have consented to sell to Japan, any oil available after the fulfilment of the existing contracts. A Tokio message quotes a correspondent of the Nichi Nichi Shimbun who says that the leader of the Japanese delegation, Mr. Kobayashi, before leaving Batavia for home, expressed confidence that the oil negotiations would be successful because oil was absolutely essential for Japan. “We thoroughly discussed the problem apart from other matters,” he is reported to have said. “Fortunately the Dutch authorities appreciated and understood our viewpoint and offered some oil. However, we asked for a greater allotment. The negotiations are at present proceeding smoothly. For this reason I am hopeful and confident that they will be successful.”