CABINET RESIGNS

Grey River Argus, 18 July 1941, Page 5

CABINET RESIGNS

Foreign Speculation LONDON, July 16. It is officially announced from Tokio that [he Cabinet has resigned en bloc. The Cabinet, it is stated, decided to make way for a stronger one, to deal with the present international situation. Prince Konoye’s Cabinet will remain in office, under Imperial guidance, until a new Cabinet is formed. The Emperor and Empress are cancelling their vacation, and are returning immediately to Tokio. The Domei Agenc.y announced that foodstuffs such as rice, sugar, and cooking oil would be even more drastically controlled and rationed in future. -'Asahi’s” Washington correspondent says that the Japanese Embassy has protested to the United- States against the oppressive measures taken against Japanese ships. The Norfolk Mar u was detained unduly before clearance, necessitating Embassy intervention. Another Japanese ship was held up at Boston, although vigorously searched by coastguardsmen. It is further alleged that other ships were detained unwarrantably. KONOYE TO FORM NEW CABINET. ELDER STATESMEN CONSULTED. (Rec. 12.21). TOKIO. July 17. The Emperor has directed Prince Konoye again to form a Cabinet. LONDON, July 17. An earlier Tokio message reports that the Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Kenji Tomita, the Legislation Bureau Chief, Mr. Naoki Murase. the Planning Board Chief, President Lieuten-ant-General Teiichi Suzuki, and the Information Board President, Mr. Nobumito, had resigned following the Cabinet resignation. The Information Board has announced that Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, Mr. Kido, has called a conference of the Senior Statesmen, including the ex-Premiers. in order to listen to their views as who* should be the next Premier. NO POLICY CHANGE. (Rec. 11.20). TOKIO, Julv 17. The Domei News Agency reports authoritative Japanese Government, circles as saying that, despite the Primp Minister, Prince Konoye’s resignation. there will be no change .in the Government’s basic policies either in the domestic or the international situation, including Japan’s basic policy, which is -tabished in Japan’s peacp treaty to Nanking. “DRASTIC RENOVATION.” OBJECT OF CABINET’S ACTION. (Rec. 10.55), TOKIO. July 16. An official announcement said that the Cabinet decided to resign so as to make wav for a stronger Government, which will be canable of the effective execution of the national policies for coning with t b e rverchanging world 'situation. The Cabinet had fe’t keenlv the ne-e sitv for the ranid strengthening of the domestic structure, as well as for a drasti' 1 renovation within itself.

NEW MINISTERS. LONDON. July 17. The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain savs: “It is believed that Prince Konoye might be commanded to f n rm a new Cabinet excluding some of the former Ministem, but including Mr Shigemitsu as Foreign Minister TOKIO PRESS RESTRAINED. (Roc 10 30). TOKIO. July 17. Press comment here is restrained The panel’s are not oven speculating over the new Cabinet. BRITISH COMMENTS. “The" Times’s” Diplomatic Correspondent savs that clearly a most delicate situation has arisen at. a critical time. Prince Konove’s Cabinet has been discussing whether to attack Russia, thereby falling in with German desires, demand or seize bases in Indo-China and Thailand or mark time temporarily, while doubling the effort to end the China war. Many signs indicated -that the Cabinet was turning to Indo-China and Thailand. According to a private report received by “The Times” from France, demands have already been prepared in readiness for presentation to Vichy within a few days. Repeated reports from Tokio stated that

Japan would move northwards or southwards before July 20. It is clear the Japanese Cabinet was still undecided. Prudent voices were raised against the extremists, and evidently the crisis was forced on this issue. Even if the new Cabinet is more prudent, any change >in Japan’s course is likely to be gradual. A Vichy spokesman denied that Japan had delivered an ultimatum to France concerning Indo-China. He added that France's relations with Japan were excellent. Rumours that Japan will soon seek to take advantage of the world situation in order to fulfil the double purpose of helping her Axis partner and at the same time obtain prizes for herself, grow in intensity. Varied suggestions of the directions in which rumour forecasts that such a move might take place, are held by some to indicate an endeavour on the part of the Japanese Government to test. British and American reactions to each one of several possibilities. It , such be the object of the attempted “nerve war," the Japanese must be feeling considerable disappointment at. the results. Although the British and American Governments are carefully watching the situation, and keeping each other informed, they are unlikely to satisfy the Japanese curiosity,' but, strictly between themselves, have discussed what steps should be taken in the event of a Japanese stroke materialising. The members of partnerships such as those existing between Japan and Germany are far more concerned with obtaining gains for themselves than with pursuing a co-operative effort, and this reason makes it unlikely' that any Japanese movement will be made against Russia, however much such action would be welcomed by Hitler. The fact of the Japanese-Soviet neutrality pact would not, of course, be any bar to a' Japanese attack —repudiation is a common form in Axis circles. A more-likely reason why a move in this direction may be discounted is that the Japanese Army would have heavy lighting to do for little advantage.' Any attack on Russia by way of the Maritime (Provinces or Siberia would be opposed by large and efficient Russian forces, which, in spite of the action in the West, are still untouched in the East. In addition, further military moves would he unpopular among a certain section of the Japanese Government, which is extremely adverse to entrusting Generals with any more power; which such an operation would be bound, temporarily at least,! to give them. A more-promising indication is that any move decided upon would he in the south,-a direction where the Japanese Navy, hitherto more or less unemployed, could be advantageously used against Indo-China and Thailand, and where comparatively little resistance need be expected. The occupation, either by "Vichy lease” or otherwise, of IndoChina ports, would give Japan strategic bases which would be most useful should more ambitious action ever be contemplated; also, by a movement in this direction she would gain what is degr to Axis hearts — loot. For southwards lie rubber, iron, and other materials which Japan needs. The likelihood that, should the Japanese Cabinet be able to arrive at any unanimous decision, it would be to‘adventure southwards, has received some support from the propaganda campaign against Indo-China now being conducted in the Japanese Press, as well as the assiduous declarations that Britain is about to enter an alliance with China. The latter type of assertion is well-known as a prelude to Axis “defence action,” of which the declaration that Britain and Russia were about to enter an alliance was the last example.—B.O.W. . Japanese Ships HELD UP AT U.S.A. PORTS. OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITY DENIED. (Received July 17, 10.35 p.m.\ WASHNGTON, July 17. Four Japanese merchantmen in Cristobal Harbour are awtiting permission to make th P transit .of the Panama Canal to the Pacific side One has been held up since last Saturday. The Canal authorities say the reason is only “orders.” MINISTER’S STATEMENT. WASHINGTON, July 17. Mr Sumner Welles. Assistant Secretary of State, said that there have been'delays in the clearing of Japanese shins. This arose from local circumstances. He denied these were due to official action. U.S.A. COMMENTS. NEW YORK, July 16. The “New York Times's” Shanghai correspondent says: Japan is marking time, as she wants to join the winning side. The Cabinet is said to be facing a crisis, because of disputes over the most-profitable course. Government opponents believe that Mr. Shigemitsu returned from London to succeed Mr. Matsuoka and to institute a new policy whereby Japan would withdraw from South China and open the Yangtse and Peiho Rivers to foreign trade. Japan would maintain only small garrisons at Shanghai, Nanking and Hankow, but would keep a dominant position in North China. The Shigemitsu group believes it can interest Britain in this scheme. J’apan would then turn her attention to Eastern Siberia.

It is believed in Washington that Japan will make at least a gesture towards the north against Russia, and will move more southward, though with strict limitations. Russia ha's notified Japan that three zones in the Sea of Japan, and one in the Karnataka Peninsula between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Behring Sea, have become dangerous for navigation. ■ The New York “Times’s” Shanghai correspondent says: An influential paper, the Tokio “Diplomatic Review,” which is supported by the Foreign Office, urges the Government to attempt to settle the China affair on the basis of national policy alone. It declares that the incident should not become involved in the world war. Meanwhile, Chungking remains watchful. Most of China’s huge army would continue fighting under any leadership, so long as it was ant'iJapanese. Mr. Quo Tai Chi said that Chungking would not sign even an Ame-rican-negotiated peace settlement. The Sino-Japanese war must be part of the world-wide post-war settlement. Fie added that no attempt had been made by Germany to settle hostilities between China and J'apan.” A report received from Mr. George Hogg, American relief worker in China, says that one third of the population of south-eastern Shansi Province has been wiped out in the past few weeks by starvation . and pestilence. The “scorced earth” tactics accounted for most of the deaths.