0JAP. CLAIMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20629, 3 December 1941, Page 7

OJAP. CLAIMS

“SUBLIME EFFORTS’ 5 KEEPING PEACE ABUSE OF AMERICA “BIGOTED ATTITUDE” (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 2, 2.50 p.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 1. The Domei agency in Tokio said to-day that the Cabinet had decided to continue the negotiations with the United States, “despite great differences in the viewpoints.” A commentator of the Associated Press of America, Mr. Dewitt Mackenzie, said to-day that Japan’s decision, to continue the negotiations with the United States was not surprising, since it bore out the indications that Tokio was anxious to evade conflict with America. “The decision, of course, is impelled by necessity,” it added. “It may even be it is calculated to give the Japanese more time to try and make up their minds as to who is going to win the European war. “It is quite possible that the German reverses during the critical hours of the Japanese Cabinet’s debate yesterday influenced the decision for a continuance of the negotiations.”

The Tokio correspondent of the New York Times, Mr. D. Tolischus, says that hopes of a peaceful settlement in the negotiations with the United States, which the vehement pronouncements of the Japanese Prime Minister, General Tojo and other leaders had reduced almost to zero, took a new lease of life and the stock market soared when the decision to continue the negotiations was taken despite the wide divergence between the principle of “Asia for the Asiatics under Japan’s leadership,” so solemnly expounded at mass meetings yesterday, and the American principles of non-aggres-sion and the open door contained in the American proposals which the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Togo, characterised as “fanciful, unrealistic and regrettable.”

“Extremely Fair”

However, the Japanese press declares that Japan will redouble “her sublime efforts for peace” by attempting to induce the United States to reconsider what the Asahi Shimbun calls its “bigoted attitude.” According to the Yomiuri Shimbun General Tojo, after surveying the American proposals from all angles, held several conferences. All quarters concerned, presumably including the army and navy, as a result of these consultations arrived at the conclusion that, though the gap is great, the negotiations should continue. All necessary measures to that end were taken.

/The Yomiuri Shimbun remarked: “Thus our attitude at the present stage of the negotiations is extremely fair. We are not abandoning hope until the last.”

The Asahi Shimbun, however, declared: “There is no hope of an improvement in the % AmericanJapanese negotiations unless the United States reconsiders its attitude of' adhering to fanciful principles trampling underfoot Japan’s position and prestige and refusing to recognise realities in East Asia. The key to the success of the negotiations, or otherwise, lies solely in America's attitude.”

State Department officials said in Washington to-day that the day’s conversations between the special Japanese envoy, Mr. Kurusu, and the Japanese Ambassador, Admiral Nomura, on the one hand and the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, on the other, to-day were concerned only with subordinate phases. Ambassador Looks Grave Admiral Nomura looked grave when emerging from Mr. Hull’s office. A reporter asked whether there was still a wide gap between the American and Japanese positions. Admiral Nomura replied: “I believe there must be wise statesmanship to save the situation.” When asked whether he planned to see Mr. Hull again Mr. Kurusu said: “Yes. We are instructed to that effect by our Government.” Later State Department officials said that the Japanese reply to Mr. Hull’s document had not yet been received, but it was expected soon. White House disclosed late to-day that Admiral Stark had attended a discussion on the Far East with President Roosevelt and Mr. Hull. After Mr. Hull’s conference with the Japanese he called on Mr. Roosevelt and discussed the Far East for an hour. Thereafter Mr. Roosevelt summoned Mr. Harry Hopkins, the lendlease supervisor, to a luncheon talk, but there were no other Presidential engagements to-day. The Chungking correspondent of the Associated Press of America says that several Chinese newspapers have urged the United States Government to suspend the Washington talks immediately for the sake of prestige. The tenor of the Chinese press comment was that Japan would never turn back and there could be no peace in the Pacific until Japan is disarmed. The influential Takung Pao said: “The best course would be to smash Japan at once, or at least tighten the blockade.” Chinese Advice The correspondent also stated that the Chinese Government spokesman predicted to-day that action against China, rather than an invasion of Thailand would be the Japanese course if the Washington talks failed. He said that Japan was not ready, nor had she the resources to invade Thailand.

The Chinese Government spokesman in Chungking, Dr. T. F. Tsiang, said: “We feel that there now can be no outcome of the Washington talks which can prove fundamentally unacceptable to China.” Dealing with Japan’s unreadiness to invade Thailand or elsewhere, he added: “Therefore, we do not expect immediately an outbreak of a Pacific war.”

Dr. Tsiang denied that Germany was making efforts to mediate in the SinoJapanese peace through Nanking and said that Chungking would “remain indifferent to such overtures, if made.” He said that in the event of a Jap-anese-American war China would be able to take the military initiative.

A 33-year-olj soldier invalided back from this war, Gunner A. M. Weir, was the millionth man to eat a meal at the Anzac Buffet in Sydney the other day and received, as a token, a silver collapsible drinking cup.