ACUTE STRAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20639, 20 August 1941, Page 5

ACUTE STRAIN

TALKS IN TOKIO AMERICAN VIEWS REPATRIATION WORK ■ JAPANESE RESTRICTION (Elec. Tel Copyright—United Press Asßn.) (Reed. Aug. 20, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 19. The Tokio representative of the Press of America says that relations between the United States and Japan admittedly were near breaking point to-day following a conference between the American Ambassador, Mr. J. C. Grew, and the Japanese Foreign Minister, Admiral Toyoda. at which the former is reported to have issued a warning that American pressure will be intensified unless Japan makes fundamental changes in her foreign policy. It is understood that Admiral Toyoda refused to make any pledge to Mr. Grew, but it was reported that he did not reiterate his past statements that the Japanese policy is based on the tripartite Axis pact. The past 24 hours have seen an exceedingly acute strain, but the negotiations have not yet passed from the diplomatic stage. The outlook, however, admittedly is not bright. Scope of Discussion The United States Government is understood to be attempting to confine the immediate situation to the status of Americans in Japanese-controlled m-eas and other technical points arising from America’s freezing action. Tokio, on the other hand, insists on a broader discussion of JapaneseAmerican relations, including Japan’s Great East Asia programme. The spokesman of the Japanese Information Board, Baron Ishii said in Tokio to-day: “Americans can leave Japan only if the Japanese Government gives permission.” He added that permits must be considered case by case. Baron Ishii said that no Americans would be permitted to leave unless the United States sent a ship. He claimed that the American Embassy had promised that only 22 officials were to leave by the liner President Coolidge if she came to J pan. They then tried to send 100 civilian-; whereupon Japan broke off the dl. cussions.