SIGNS OF UNITY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20621, 24 November 1941, Page 5

SIGNS OF UNITY

PACIFIC POWERS TALKS IN WASHINGTON AMERICA AND JAPAN (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 24, 11 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 23. Representatives of the A.B.C.D. Powers conferred lor nearly three hours in what is interpreted as a demonstration of solidarity in the Far East. Later, the State Department announced that the Secretary ot State, Mr. Cordell Hull, would see the special Japanese envoy, Mr. Kurusu, and the Ambassador, Admiral Nomura, informally on Saturday. It is confirmed that Mr. Hull kept the representatives of the A.B.C.D. Powers fully informed of the Japanese talks. Asked after the conference whether he is hopeful of a solution of Pacific problems, the British Ambassador, Viscount Halifax, smiled: “I’m always optimistic,” he said. “I wouldn't undertake to under-estimate developments or over-estimate them. 1 believe it is best to treat exploratory talks as exploratory and keep temperatures down.” The Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Hu Shih, appeared cheerful. He said the A.B.C.D. Powers were in agreement — apparently referring to the speculation that a settlement might oblige China to make concessions.

The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says the prospect that conversations between America and Japan might meet a modicum of success loomed for the first time yesterday. There were certain hopeful factors, but the conversations are too delicate for the participants to discuss them openly at the present time. A report from Tokio by the correspondent of the New York Times, Mr D. Tolischus, says that the vice-presi-dent of the Imperial Rule Association, General Kisaburo Ando, in a speech, said that Japan must prepare herself to meet the situation in such a manner as to gain victory without waging war.

Miracle Required

Mr. Tolischus says the general impression is that only a miracle can lead the negotiations to success. Nevertheless, even if they break down, no immediate move is expected by either side, at least until there is a further development in the European war.

However, the newspaper Hochi Shimbun says: “For five years we have waged a big war on the Continent. Now, whether we like it or not, it will be training for a great war in the future.”

The press gives a bad note to the Diet session. Some papers call on the Government to hold a new general election to reflect the true will of the people. The Nichinichi Shimbun says the gravity of the situation does not empower the Prime Minister, Genera l Tojo, to evade it. Simultaneously, there is emerging a drive for the reconstruction of the political parties in the place of Imperial rule. The main obstable to the negotiations between the United States and Japan is the Japanese adherence to the Axis, which Mr. Hull demanded Tapani should denounce as one of the basic conditions, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Herald-Tribune. Thus far the Japanese have shown no disposition to sever the Axis link. The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press of America says thaan Imperial ordinance mobilised boys and girls from 14 years and also young men and women for national labour service.

The Kckumin said Japan would be forced to i denounce the RussoJapanese neutrality pact and take firm measures in event of Russia continuing her quibbling and procrastinating tactics regarding the Japanese protest about the sinking of the Kohi Maru. A Berne report says that many members of the JaDanese Embassy in Berlin, excluding the Ambassador, have arrived. The reason is unknown