A COUNTER TO U.S.A.

Grey River Argus, 23 July 1941, Page 5

A COUNTER TO U.S.A.

JAPAN’S ROLE

Uncertainty Still

[Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] TOKIO, July 21.

The Japanese Cabinet to-day conferred with the Army and Navy High Commands. The purpose of the conference was to establish fuller liaison and attain unity between the Government and the High Commands.

The Domei Agency points out that the Army and Navy have taken an active part in the Government reorganisation.

Mr. Chugai to-day said the uncertainty abroad over J'apanese future movements is preventing the United States giving the maximum aid to Britain, by moving the Pacific Fleet to the Atlantic, thus showing Japan’s importance in the complicated world situation.

Mr. Chugai also expressed the belief that the Tripartite Pact would not operate to bring Japan into me war. if Germany took the initiative, and declared war on the United States. Article Three of the Pact, he said, provided that one ally should help another, only if one were attacked by a Power not involved in the European-Chinese wars. The “New York Times’s’’ Sunday magazines section of June 8, was banned throughout Japan to-day, presumably because of a group of Chinese woodcuts, examples of war art. One bore the caption “Homeless after a Japanese raid,’’ and another, depicting dead Chinese. “The gift of the Imperial Army.” The stock market at Tokio has turned soft, which is attributed to the prospect of increased taxation, as well as the complicated international situation.

The Dome] Agency says that Prince Konoye will outline Japan’s diplomatc aims to the Press, tomorrow.

The paper, “Hochi,” in a heavily censored editorial, said: Japan should face her impending difficulties by relying on her own power, regardless of the agreements with the Axis and Russia. Japanese diplomacy has been based on those agreements but it is an undeniable fact that because of the outbreak of the German-Russian war, there has been a marked change in Japan’s relations to the major conditions in East Asia' diplomacy. “Hochi” then said the next seven lines had been censored. The “Nichi Nichi” warned IndoChina to reconsider anti-Japanese action, and reject any British and American manoeuvres aimed at blocking Japan's peaceful expansion southward. “Nichi Nichi” said that 150 pro-Japanese had been recently executed In Inao-China.

Manila Plans

FOR HUGE EVACUATION.

(Rec. 10.30). NEW YORK, July 22. The U.S.A. National Broadcasting Company, in a broadcast from Manila, has reported that plans are being completed to evacuate three hundred thousand natives and A'merican women and children -from Manila in the event of a' threat to the Philippine capital.

The radio said evacuees would be housed in concrete warehouses at a isugar plantation one hour’s drive from the city.

EYES OF JAPAN On Siam and Indo-China EARLY MILITARY ACTION PREDICTED. BY LONDON WRITER. (Rec. 7.30). LONDON, July 22. The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” says: “When the Japanese newspapers declare that the new Government brings no change of policy., they seem to be xvriting the truth. Before Prince Konoye resigned the Premiership last week, much evidence was coming to Britain which suggested that Japan had been planning to take over naval and air bases in French Indo-China. “After Prince Konoye returned to power with his “stronger Cabinet,” the evidence has pointed more clearly toxvards action very soon. Movements of Japanese troops and xvjtrships confirm both diplomatic and political evidence of this. “The French Government at Vichy is axvare that Japanese demands are being made in Indo-China, and it is equally aware that Japan will use force if she is resisted. The newspapers of Tokio have sharpened their tone against Indo China. Such comment is the customary preamble to demands. In the usual vocabularly aggression, the Japanese are already excusing for any move by declaring themselves to be menaced. They are alleging that the British and Americans are bringing increasing influence to bear on Thailand, and thereby are encirling Japan. A glance at the map shows the hollowness of this pretence. The city of Bangkok, “the menace” to Japan, is about txventy-nine hundred miles from Tokio. Thailand, xvhich the Japanese covet, is only' about 290 miles from Singapore.” JAPANESE TRANSPORTS. CONVOY GOES SOUTHWARDS. LONDON., July 21. A convoy of 15 Japanese transports and supply-ships was sighted yesterday off Lantao, at the mouth of the Pearl River, outside British waters, according to a Hong Kong message. It is believed that the convoy was: moving southwards. I

British Forces GOING TO INDO-CHINA? TOKO, July 22. The naper “Nichi Nichi Shimbun” gives prominence to a report from the Hong Kong correspondent of the Domei News Agency that the Chungking Government have conclude! a secret military agreement with Brtain and with General do , Gaulle. Under this agreement, Marsha' Chi-Kai-shek’s troops in Kwangsi and Yunnan are preparing to invade northern Tndo-China. for which reason Britain is reported to have started preparations for the transporting of native troops to southern IndoChina.

Demands on Siamese

BY BRITAIN AND U.S.A.

A JAPANESE REPORT.

(Rec. 11.30). LONDON. July 22. The correspondent of the Dome! News Agency says: “Britain, who has beeh making an effort to prevent Indo-China and Thailand from exporting key materials to Japan, is now. after opening an economic bureau Branch Office in Singapore, is submitting, through her Minister, Mr Crosby, certain economic de-

mands on Thailand. It is believed that the United States is co-operating with Britain and is submitting similar demands on Thailand.” BRITISH FORCES IN FAR EAST. JAPANESE ALLEGE EXAGGERATION. TOKIO, July 21. The Domei Agency’s Bangkok correspondent said to-day that Britain has fewer troops in the Far East than is generally supposed. The I Domei correspondent asserted that, I although Britain claims to have 200,000 troops in Malay, and 100,000 in Burma, a reliable survey exposes that the actual figures are not more than one-fifth of these figures Moreover, they are nothing but a' rabble, composed of mixed racial troops, with Britishers extremely limited. JAPAN’S SUPPLIES. NEW YORK, July 21. The Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Ino, gave an assurance today that there is plenty of rice and vegetables in Japan, and Japanese farmers will soon be producing more. BOMBINGS IN JAPAN? I INSURANCE PROJECT. NEW YORK, July 21. The “New York Times’s” Tokio correspondent, Mr. O. Tolischus. says that the Commerce Ministry and the leading insurance companies are discussing the problem of introducing bombing insurance. In view of the increasing tenseness of the world situation, bombings in Japan may become an actuality. INDIAN AFFAIRS. WASHINGTON, July 21. Mr Roosevelt has sent to the Senate the nomination of Thomas Murray Wilson, to be the first United States diplomatic representative in India, with the rank of Minister.