TO WORK WITH AXIS

Grey River Argus, 2 January 1941, Page 5

TO WORK WITH AXIS

Government Declarations [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received January 1, 9-50 p.m.). - TOKIO, December 31 Prince Konoye, Prime MmisrcT, and the member., of the Government, in their New Year statements, which are issued through the Dome! News Agency, have reiterated Japan’s loyalty to the Axis, and. her determination to proceed vigorously with the Greater East Asia programme. Some of the statements, while not referring directly to Mr Rooseve’.t’ s speech, draw attention to the United States’ economic pressure, and have urged the peopl e of Japan to unite in a preparation to withstand greater American pressure. The statements, generally, have emphasised, firstly, that Japan is committed to the creation of the Greater East. Asia Bioc of Prosperity, composed of China, Japan, and Manchukuo, to which the United States and Britain aie opposed. Secondly, they emphas’se that Japan, as a “have not.” nation sup' ports the Italian-German programme for a New World Order. Thirdly, they emphasise Japan’s great need of internal unity. Any references to Russia are notably missing, thus indicating that the Government of Japan has not yei abandoned the hope of agreement with the Soviet Prince Konoye said that Japan is firmly determined to break the Anglo-i American conception of the maintenance of the status quo ’•) East Asia. He says: “It must be realised that th e road towards our final goal is hard. ' ’ International relations will be further strained in 1941. Ever-lasting peace and prosperity can be attained only by forcing large-scale changev Italy and Germany have undertaken the ieorganisation of Europe, and Japan the re-organisation of East As>a/'

U.A.S. Proposal

TO BAR JAPANESE GOODS. WASHINGTON, December 31. It is learned that the Adm’n’stration officials have shelved, temporarily, a proposal to impose penalt’es on ‘imports of Japanese raw silk, which has been under consideration for several weeks. Tire proposal as discussed has involved the imposition of a 50 per cent, ad valorem,, duty on Japanese goods.