JAP. DISCLAIMERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20629, 9 August 1941, Page 5

JAP. DISCLAIMERS

AGGRESSIVE AIMS THAILAND’S POSITION BRITAIN ACCUSED AGAIN (Elec. Te! Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 9, 11.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 8. The Bangkok radio to-day said:— “Thailanders will never run away. They will defend the country to the last drop of blood. Thailand does not need the protection of any Power.” The Tokio correspondent of the New York Times states that official Japanese quarters yesterday disclaimed any aggressive intentions against Thailand, or any defence agreement similar to that with Indo-China. They declared that the recent statements by the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, and the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, regarding the dangerous situation were based on unwarrantable facts.

The Japanese also blamed the British authorities for “creating a new crisis in the Far East, analogous to that in February when all the allegations against Japan were proved untrue.”

The Japanese officials emphasised that the joint defence of Indo-China, arranged by mutual agreement with Vichy, was affected by the peculiar circumstances of the European war and the division among the French themselves. They pointed out that Thailand was an independent country with which Japan was- maintaining peaceful and friendly relations, but if the situation in south-eastern Asia should be changed by further manoeuvres by outside Powers, Japan might be forced to review her present stand. Profound Impression Created A special correspondent- of the New York Times in Tokio says that no doubt the statements by Mr. Eden and Mr. Hull, especially their advice to Thailand to resist aggression, coupled with the offer of aid, have created a profound impression in Japan, confirming the opinion of some observers that Thailand will become in the Far East, what Poland was in Europe before the outbreak of war—a touchstone of war and peace. It is noteworthy that the most active elements are beginning to display impatience with the third Konoye Cabinet, proceeds the special correspondent. The newspaper Kokumin Shimbun urges Prince Konoye to go ahead with a “great renovation instead of trying to make compromises,” and reminds him that “renovation is after all fighting. Those who intend renovation. must be loyal heroes, willing to die.’’ The Kokumin Shimbun states that the Japanese Ministers of War, the Navy and Education have agreed to abolish the regulations exempting students from conscription io order that they may “join in the national activities to tide the nation over a difficult situation.” The Education Ministry has promulgated regulations reorganising the schools’ national service corps. The Government o£ Japan has decided to establish an Air Defence Bureau in order to effect a speedy expansion of air defence equipment in important industrial cities. such as Tokio, Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe and Nagoya, as well as in the northern industrial zone.