“BOLD ACTION”

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1941, Page 5

“BOLD ACTION”

JAPAN’S INTENTION Premier’s Announcement (A.N.Z.C.A.) LONDON, July 18. After an ei"hteen-minute meeting of his new Cabinet, the Japanese Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, said that the fundamental policy of the Cabinet would be to renovate the national strength and take “bold ac-' tion” to carry out the national policy in view of the increasin'-’- grave w'orld situation. The Cabinet is as follows: —Premier, Prince Konoye; Foreign Minister, Admiral Toyoda; War, General Tojo; Navy, Admiral Oikawa; Justice, concurrently w'ith Prince Konoye, Lieutenant-General Suzuki; Home Affairs. Mr Tanabe; Finance. Mr Ogura; Railways and Communications, Mr Shozo Murata; Commerce and Industry, Vice-Admiral Sakonji; Education, Mr K. Hashida; Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Hino; Welfare, Lieutenant-General Koizumi; Minister without portfolio, Mr Hiranuma; President of the Cabinet Planning Board, Lieutenant-General Suzuki. Prince Konoye formed a new Cabinet, the most notable change in which is the omission of Mr Matsuoka, and the appointment in his stead of ?.r Toyoda. The Cabinet changes are interpreted to mean that Japan has repudiated Axis direction of her policy, but that she is still pressing on with her own ambitious aims in East Asia. The Minister of War (Lieutenant General Togo) and the Minister of the Navy (Admiral Oikawa) have issued a joint statement, in which they said that the arn l " and navy would unite for the strengthening of the Japanese war structure. The future policy laid down at the Imperial Conference early this month was not changed. Reuter states that the Cabinet will meet again on Tuesday. MATSUO KA’S SYM PATH ISERS. (Rec. 9.10). BATAVIA, July 19. It is reported from Tokio that me Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister Mr Chuichi Hashi, resigned, and that Mr Honda (Japanese Ambassador to Nanking), also resigned and that it is believed they did so through being sympathetic with Mr Ma'suoka. The Tokio United Press correspondent says: The Japanese Press viewed the dropping of Mr Matsuoka with satisfaction, attacking his recent policies, particularly the Russian Pact. It claims that what Japan needs is a man able to see at least a year ahead. VERY GUARDED. JAPANESE SPOKESMAN. TOKIO, July 20. The Japanese Information Board spokesman, Mr. Ito, said: “The outbreak of the Russian-German war has brought a very great change in the world situation. Japan, after the Crete attack, had expected that Germany would attack England, instead of Russia. Some people think that. Britain, America and Russia will now unitedly pit themselves against Germany. Japan, and Italy, and that finally an ideological war will begin.” He said: “However, the situation is not so simple, so I think it is dangerous to rush to any rash conclusions.” He expressed the opinion that further changes in national alignments were possible on the lines of Russia’s shift from Germany to Britain, for 1 which reason, he said, one could not rely on others. Mr. Ito did not mention Japan’s relations with the Axis during his long international review. FUNDAMENTAL OR ADAPTABLE ? (Rec. 10.0). TOKIO, July 19. The Japanese vernacular papers here predict a long life for the new Cabinet, with the reorganisation and stabilisation of the internal political scene. They say that, since the fundamental policy remains unchanged, J the Government will not issue a platform statement. However, it is expected to clarify its policy to the press after a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The “Asahi Shimbun” says: Mr Toyoda, in an interview, defined tne fundamental policv as the settlement of the China affair. Japan’s established national policv remained immovable and immutable. However, in his opinion, it might be necessary to take a free view of diplomacy and make it suit the day-to-uay international situation. The Army aiw Navy, in a joint statement called on the nation to unite in the rapid strengthening of Japan’s war-time structure. The main lines of national policy, established at the Imperial Conference, on July 2, remain immutable, and independent of the Cabinet. The Domei Agency said: It will be the new Government’s mission to guide Japan alon? the lines of free foreign policy. Third Powers unfriendly towards Japan may exploit the Cabinet changes, and broadcast false propaganda as though Japan’s foreign policy will be altered, but this will be only wishful thinking. On War Footing THE NEW CABINET, [A..s. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 9.0) LONDON, July 19. Shanghai reports say that the Japanese Prime Minister. Prince Konoye has announced that the new Government is to function on a war footing, and that Japan’s policy for coping with the international situation has already been fixed. It now remained, he said, for them to put it into practice with decision and speed. Japanese Troops GOING TO RUSSIAN FRONTIER. (Rec. 9.5). LONDON, July 19. Reports from Peking state that the Japanese are concentrating troops at Peking for transport to . Manchukuo or to Inner Mongolia. The majority of these troops had been withdrawn from Shansi Province. JAP. MILITARY TRAINS. (Rec. 9.0). LONDON, July 19. Shaighai reports state that troop ■ trains are alread” rushin" Japanese forces to Kalgan, in Inner Mongolia. ■ It is suggested that the Japanese i are now strengthening their forces > along the Russian Far Eastern fron- ’ tiers. 1 U.S.A. OPINION NOT OPTIMISTIC. ’ < (Rec. 7.30). WASHINGTON, July 19. ‘ Observers here believe that the new Japanese Cabinet offers but ! ' scant hope of improved Japanese relations with Britain and United ■ States, or any lessening of the tension in the Pacific. DUTCH INDIES VIEW. INDO-CHINA’S DANGER. (Rec. 7.30). BATAVIA. July 19. H Authoritative opinion in Batavia is that Japan will not attack Russia, I but that either peaceful or unpeaceful Japanese penetration of IndoChina can be expected at any mo- 1 ment.