JAP. PARLEYS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20618, 20 November 1941, Page 5

JAP. PARLEYS

DELICATE BALANCE QUERIES FOR TOKIO NEW U.S. FACTORS POWERS OF OFFENSIVE l Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 20, 11 a.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 19. The New York Times’ Washington correspondent states that the United States - Japanese conversations have proceeded to a point where the Japanese Ambassador, Admiral Nomura and the special envoy, Mr. Kurusu had to refer questions to their Government for instructions. While details are closely guarded the picture to-night was one of delicate balance, with too much emphasis not warrantable on the side either of optimism or pessimism. The New York Times’ correspondent, Mr. Arthur Krock, in a message from Washington says that two new factors have reversed all the United States military plans in the Pacific, giving the Philippines an offensive instead of the long-accepted defensive role. One factor is the naval alliance with Britain, joining for all practical purposes the fleets of the two nations in the Pacific. The other is the coming-of~age of aircraft in battle. Scope of Bombers If the American commanders in the Philippines decided to defend by attacking there are enough bombers and of sufficient strength t 6 drop bombs on Japan, land in Siberia, refuel and again bomb and repeat the enterprise on the return trip to Manila. This new establishment in the islands would release the United States Fleet in the Pacific for heavy operations in conjunction with the British Fleet. That would create a naval force outnumbering the Japanese and capable of making an attack of its own. Before Mr. Kurusu leaves Washington, adds Mr, Krock, .he may be officially acquainted with these new circumstances of war-making in the far Pacific area for official transmission to his Government. The information will probably have an important effect on the progress of the American-Japanese discussions. There are supporting details equally reassuring to the United States which remain locked among the secrets of the War and Navy Departments.