THE FAR EAST

Grey River Argus, 10 September 1940, Page 6

THE FAR EAST

U.S.A. ATTITUDE Japanese Estimate | Aus. & N.Z. Cable .Assn.] LONDON, September ti. Th e , ToKio corresponaent or the Associated Press of Great Britain states that th& spokesman at the Japanese Foreign Officii?. (Mr i’. Suma) said that the United States had no cause for alarm concerning th e status stio of Indo-China. MajorGeneral Nishihara, the leader of «/ie Japanese military mission in IndoCinna, had been authorised to negotiate concerning peaceful processes. Mr Suma addect that Japan wi» not replying to Mr Hull’s statement of September 4. “The United States seem 5 to take a'great deal of interest in Shanghai affairs,” he said. , “U e do not think them very important. The question should be settled locally.” Th 9 United States Secretary of State (Mr. Cordell Hull) indicated that the United States had sent representations to Japan about the status quo in Indo-China and the Durch East Indies, in addition to the public statement he made- cm Wednesday. Mr Hull said he would not be surprised if a number or •governments made- representations to Japan in favour of the status quo being maintained. The Japanese Ministers for War, Air, Navy, and Foreign Affairs conferred. and it was announced iffiat Japan would ignore foreign countries’ representations and pursue a strong Ja.panese policy in IndoChina., It is reliably stated in Washington that recent conversations between the Australian Minister to Washington (Mr R. G. Casey), the British Ambassador (Lord Lothian’), and Mr -Hull included an exchange of views on th a course the respective nations would follow in the event of new complications in the Far East. The United States considers any hostile- move against five Dutch East Indies or elsewhere in the Far East as of immediate mutual concern to th e United States, Australia, and Britain, from military and economic standpoints. Official circles confirm that she is discussing officially greater United States and Australian cooperation, and also the possibility of greater co-operation between the sterling bloc, including the Empire and the Dutch East Indies and Western Hemisphere nations. It is authoritatively stated that the United Slates has begun discussions with Russia, directed at stemming Japanese aggression . .and with the immediate objective of warding oft’ a Japanese attack on the Dutch East Indies. The discussions are regarded as an important part in the general stiffening of the United States’ Far Eastern policy, and they may eventually result in a formal alliance between Russia and the United States. At. Chungking the Chinese authorities will neither confirm nor d<My th e reported French-Chinese border incident as to which it. is stated French reinforcements were rushed to the Indo-China border after patrols had repulsed Chinese troops who, it is alleged, violated French territory, and killed one French soldier and wounded two. The authorities in Shanghai under-

stand that th e Japanese have already entered or are on the point of entering Indo-China. An effort is being mad e at secrecy in order to forestall a Chinese counter-invasion. A Japanese army spokesman, however, uenied that Japanese troops had entered Indo-China. "Excluding Major-General Nishihara’s . inspection party, there is not a single Japanese soldier in Indo-China. including Haiphong or elsewhere,” he said.

JAPAN AND NEW ZEALAND. AUCKLAND, September 9. Closer relations between Japan and New Zealand, even during t\je war were urged by Mr ToyuKichi Fuktima, Japanese Consul-General in New Zealand, who was interviewed, prior to sailing for Japan, On his arrival at Auckland, h e was welcomed by 'the Mayor (Sir Ernest. Davis) anl th e Honorary Consul for Japan in Auckland (Hon. Eliot Davis). Mi Fuktima said that Japan wanted New Zealand wool in particular, also general raw. materials, including casern. In exchange, Japan now exported textiles and' manufactured goods, hut could also send corrugated iron for roofing, fencing wire, and metal casings for munitions.

BRITAIN AND SIAM. RUGBY, September 5. On the occasion of an exchange of ratifications of an Anglo-Thai pact of non-aggression, th e following messages have been exchanged between Mr Churchill and the Prime Minister of Thailand: “On the occasion of the exchange of ratifications of the Anglo-Thai pact of non-aggression, I send you my cordial good wishes. I am confident your able leadership of Thailand will play an increasingly important part in these times as a bulwark of peace in th, e south-east of Asia.” Th. v Prime Minister of Thailand replied: “On this auspicious occasion of exchange of. ratifications of the Anglo-Thai pact of non-aggression, the Thai people and I are deeply gratified. My gratification i s all tho greater when Your Excellency, QS head of the British Government, is kind enough to send rhe your good wishes. I accordingly extend to Your Excellency my cordial thanks, and I hop e that the traditional ties of friendship happily existing /between our two countries will be thorp, closely reaffirmed by this pact.”