CANBERRA WATCH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20630, 11 August 1941, Page 5

CANBERRA WATCH

MINISTERS READY JAPANESE ASSURANCES NEW CONSUL AT ’SYDNEY I Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 11, 9 a.m.) ' SYDNEY, Aug. 10. A message from Adelaide states that as a result of the situation in the Pacific the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, is preparing to cancel his tour if necessary. He said that whether the Cabinet met at Melbourne on Monday would depend on the way in which the international situation developed in the meantime. All Ministers had been advised to hold themselves in readiness. The Minister of Supply, Senator G. McLeay, said he had received news from America that the Californian Texas Company had arranged for two of their tankers to be diverted to the New Zealand and Australian run. The United States cruisers Northampton and Salt Lake City left Brisbane to-day. “Nobody in Japan wants war any more than you people,” said the hew Japanese Consul-General to Australia, Mr. Itsuo Goto, on his arrival on Saturday in the KasimaMaru. “If there is going to be war, surely my Government would not have sent me here. Anti-British Feeling Denied “There was no anti-British feeling when I left Japan. “Certainly Japan wants to expand to the south, but by peaceful methods. We want to trade with other countries in the Pacific, including the Netherlands East Indies, New Zealand, and Australia.” When informed that Japanese business people in New Zealand and Australia were preparing to leave for japan, Mr. Goto said: “If there is no trade, what is the use of them staying on? One of my chief duties will be to improve trade relations between Japan and Australia.” Mr. Goto is accompanied by his wife and daughter. Eight Days Overdue News of the threatening situation in the Pacific was kept from passengers in the Kasima Maru which reached Sydney eight days overdue. Passengers said the liner turned back off the coast of New Guinea and then cruised in a circle for three days and lay at anchor four more, it was blacked out. All Japanese signs were removed. The captain informed them that he was awaiting instructions from Tokio.. During this time three Dutch planes flew overhead and a party from a Dutch destroyer boarded the liner. News of the war was eagerly sought by the passengers on their arrival in Sydney. They said that all the news bulletins on the liner were from German sources and according to these Russia’s collapse was imminent. The passengers included 53 Poles who escaped across Russia to Japan after the Nazi invasion. One Pole travelled as a stowaway.