CHINESE COMMUNISTS

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1941, Page 5

CHINESE COMMUNISTS

Attack Government Forces IN TWO PROVINCES. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 6.30). CHUNGKING, July 19. The Chinese Central News Agency reports that Chinese Communists have' attacked the Chinese Government forces in the south-east of the Shansi and Shantung Provinces The Chinese Communists have also attacked the Chinese guerilla forces, who are operating against the JapI anese. It is authoritatively stated thai tne Chungking Government is taking necessary steps, but no punitive expedition has been planned. Chinese Communists A CONCILIATOR REPORTED. PLANS OF ANTI-JAPANESE MOVE IN NORTH. (Rec. 9.0). CHUNGKING, July 19. Mr Owen Lattimore, who is an expert on Mongolia, has arrived in Chungking, where he has become a special adviser to Marshal Chiang-Kai-Shek. Mr Lattimore brought a petition from exiled Manchurians, praying for the liberation of General Chan Hsuchliang, the former War Lord, who has been a prisoner since his forces were kidnapped by Marshal Chiang-Kai-Shek in the year 1936. The petition said that General Chan" Hsuchliang would be able to effect a rapprochement between the Chinese Communists and the Government of Chungking, and to lead a movement against Japanese domination in Manchuria. ■ Early Japanese Move CHINESE FORECAST. (Rec. 7.30). CHUNGKING, July 19. The Chinese Foreign Office spokesman here said: The Japanese Prime Minister, Prince Konoye has formed a “Water Bird” Cabinet, meaning that it has a calm surface, but one concealing great activity underneath. Despite the conservative appearance of this new Cabinet, Japan will be certain to move soon either to the northward or the southward. Japan Getting Ready TO STRIKE SOON. CHINESE ESTIMATE. (Rec. 9.0) CHUNGKING, July 20. Quo Tai Chi, in an interview with the United Press of America, pointed out that there is an unprecedented number of army and naval men in the new Japanese Cabinet, for winch reason he considered that it is a semimilitary Cabinet, designed fully to prepare military moves that are contemplated by Japan. He said that when these preparations are completed, Japan will be -ready to strike. Quo Tai Chi gave a warning that the new Cabinet would anoear outwardly to be civilian-, which would enable Japan to extract the last benefits from American and British circles. U.S.A. Encircling Move ? THREATENING JAPAN. TOKIO PAPER’S STATEMENT. (Rec. 9.0). TOKIO, July 19. The “Japan Times and Advertiser” says: “There is a Roosevelt Wall being built, and being strengtnened, about Japan’s eastern front, which wall threatens the safety ot this empire. The time for Japan to take forceful measures in her own interests, is now, before this throttling circle becomes too strong and dangerous.” JAPAN AND SIBERIA. (Rec. 9.0). TOKIO, July 19. The paper “Kokumin Shimbun,” says: “Fundamental problems for Japan are the Siberian question and the American encirclement. Japans future foreign policy will be to aestroy the third-Power machinations against Japan’s new order in Asia. No Quarrel Wanted LORD HALIFAX’S ASSURANCE TO JAPAN. (Rec. 7.30). NEW YORK, July 19. The British Ambassador to U.S.A., Lord Halifax, speakin? at San Francisco, said that neither in the British Commonwealth, nor in America was there the slightest desire to pick a quarrel with Japan. Provided that Japan had due regard for the rights of other interested Powers, he saw no reason why any difficulties need arise that would lead to a clash. But no one should make the mistake of thinking that, under pressure, Britain would allow her legitimate rights and interests to be ’-nored or set aside.

R.A.F. Reinforced AT SINGAPORE. (Rec. 7.30). BATAVIA, July 19. Further large reinforcements of Royal Air Force airmen have arrived at Singapore from England. DUTCH INDIES SHIPBUILDING. (Rec. 7.30). BATAVIA, July 19. Six large companies of shipowners and shipbuilders in the Dutch East Indies have decided to build between them three ships annually ot a gross tonnage of from nine to ten thousand. The machinery is being purchased in the United States. Outside Comments AND CONJECTURES. LONDON, July 18. London and Washington are keeping a close watch on the Japanese developments. Mr Roosevelt will discuss with the United States Undersecretary of State, Mr Sumner Welles, a report received from the American Ambassador to Japan, Mr Joseph C. Grew. Close observers say that the extremist element in Japan will not easily be diverted from the policy to which the old Government was committed. British and American circles generally welcome Admiral Toyoda’s appointment, believing that it foreshadows a more conservative policy. They point out that the Cabinet is stro'np'lv nationalistic and su??est it is likely to follow an opportunist policy. They do not believe that the Cabinet will commit itself to conflicting treaty obligations. One of the main difficulties which will have to be faced by the Japanese Government in the formulation of its foreign policy is the German volte face in relations with Russia, Japan’s most powerful neighbour. After officially adhering to the Axis, Japan was persuaded to follow the example of Germany and sign a pact of neutrality with Russia, in spite of the inconsistency of such a pact with the anti-Comintern commitments of the Axis agreement.' Nevertheless, Japan signed such a pact with Russia- Hardly was this done before Germany, without notifying the Japanese, launched a full-j scale attack on Russia. | Before the resignation of the Ja-j panese Cabinet, news reaching London suggested that some military move by Japanese forces was under

consideration. There has been a revival from many sources of reports originally coming from Shanghai, that Indo-China is one of Japan’s probable objectives. The possibility that demands on Vichy for the cession of bases in French Indo-China is likely to be made in the near future is discussed in to-day’s issue of “The Times," which cites a report to the effect that demands will be laid before the Vichy Cabinet within the next tew days. Reuter’s correspondent in the Far East states that the Japanese Cabinet was sharply divided by the German invasion of Russia. He said that an extremist party was led by Mr Matsuoka, and included the Minister for War, Lieutenant-General Tojo, while the other section was led by the Minister for the Interior, Baron Hiranuma; and was supportea by big business. Their policy was to make no move until the international sitaution was clearer. It is believed that the resignation of the Cabinet was forced by the extremists in the hope of gaining power in the new Cabinet. Comment from Berlin reveals Germany’s anxiety ’as to what Japan will do. The Berlin radio said that Germany hopes that the new Japanese Cabinet will be purely military. It denies that Germany would benefit if Janan took a strong attitude against Britain, Russia, and the United States. Comment in is that the Change in Japan makes no effect on the policy of pressin - on with preparations’ against what are described as “outside ephemeral developments.” The authorities have defined territorial waters in which ships may not anchor between sunset and sunrise. Chinese newspapers contend that the chief motive for the reorganisation of the Cabinet is to tear up the neutrality agreement with Russia. The Shanghai “Evening Post” states that a chan- " nolicv is foreshadowed by the reforming of the Cabinet under Prince Konoye, but the military and naval leaders will insist on the takin? of strong measures to enforce the expansionist policy southwards.