TOKIO PLOT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20638, 19 August 1941, Page 6

TOKIO PLOT

ATTACK ON RUSSIA CHINESE BELIEF THAILAND FEINT PRESS ACCUSATIONS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Rccd. Aug. 19, 1.50 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 18. The Chinese are convinced that the threat of a Japanese move against Thailand is intended to engage the attention of America, Britain, China and the Netherlands while Japan prepares for an attack on Russia at Vladivostock, according to the Hong Kong correspondent of The Times. The Shanghai representative of the the Daily Mail quotes Tokio reports that the greatest assembly of transport ever seen is gathering. A warning that if Russian-Japanese relations get worse the Kremlin alone will be responsible is given by the Tokio newspaper I-lochi Shimbun, which adds: “Japan cannot remain indifferent to reports that Moscow has agreed to pool war materials with the anti-Axis Powers, because Russia u aware of Japan’s efforts to settle the China affair are being delayed by British and American obstruction.” “Encirclement” Bogey The Nichinichi Shimbun warns the Soviet to reject the Moscow threePower conference, which would mean a further “encirclement” of Japan. The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says there are reliable indications that the Russian Far Eastern army strength has been fully mobilised and stationed on the Siberian border. The Domei agency reported that Japanese assistance in Indo-China might be increased because of the tightening of -the “encirclement” of the Japanese sphere by Britain and the United States. According to the Shanghai correspondent of the Associated Press oi Great Britain, Japanese sources have intimated that the Nanking . regime intends to oust British and United States consular officials from Japa-nese-occupied China on the ground that they have failed to recognise the Wang regime. Singapore Restriction The Singapore correspondent of the Domei agency says that all Japanese and other aliens within a 15-milc radius of the Singapore naval base have been ordered to leave the area within a fortnight. The Japanese include residents and officers and concerns holding vast rubber tracts. They are appealing against the decision. It officially announced in Cairo that large quantiies of Egyptian cotton ready for shipment to Japan will not go forward following the cancellation of all navicerts for cargoes from Egypt to Japan.