FAR EAST ANXIETY

Grey River Argus, 27 September 1941, Page 5

FAR EAST ANXIETY

BRITISH ATTITUDE Dutch Complaint . SINGAPORE, September 25. Further Indian reinforcements have arrived here, including a complete hospital unit. U.S.A. PLANES FOR DUTCH INDIES. (Rec. 10.10). BATAVIA, Sept. 25. The Netherlands East Indies Government has signed a contract for the delivery of twenty-four million dollars’ worth of twin-engined bombers from the United States. They are to be ferried across the Pacific to the Netherlands East Indies. SINGAPORE, September . 25. Dutch opinion is unanimous, thajt the time has arrived when Mr. Churchill should make a full and positive statement on the relations between Britain -and the • Netherlands East Indies. The Batavia “Nieuwsblad” directs attention to the fact that both Mr. Duff Cooper and Sir R. Brocke Popham have evaded questions why no complete alliance exists. The newspaper says that there must be some reason for Britain’s aversion from any alliance, and for the very careful and for the most part negative utterances of Mr. Duff Cooper and Sir R. Brooke Popham. “The only solution is that Britain has to take into account the circumstances in which British assistance would not be absolutely/ assured beforehand; otherwise, why this caution?” Informed sources say that the silence is causing undesirable misunderstanding and uneasiness among the peoples of the Netherlands East China, and the United StatesSpeculation is rife as to whether Canberra will urge Mr Churchill to make an early, statement, in order to clear awav the present doubt. PEKIN, September 25. The British Embassy said to-day that the Japanese authorities had joined the investigation into the mysterious disappearance last Saturday of Mrs. Aiko Clarke, the Japanese wife of Mr. Denzil Clarke, the Embassy Press Attache. Mrs. Clarke vanished after visiting her dressmaker and telephoning her husband. Kidnapping is discounted, because no demanus for ransom have been received.

Japan and Axis TO-DAY’S CELEBRATIONS. (Rec. 1.26). TOKIO, Sept. 26. The vernacular newspapers of To.kio generally have asserted that to-morrow (Saturday) will be a deeply significant occasion on account of its being the_ first anniversary of the Tripartite Pact" Trom which Japan has greatly benefited! notwithstanding the difficult world conditions. The papers also asserted that the nation should make greater efforts to strengthen its relations with the Axis toward the construction of “New Orders" in Europe and in East Asia. The “Yomiuri Shimbun” is typical. It says? “Japan, in coping with unpredictable world conditions, should use the Tripartite Pact as a sharp blade in pushing her policies ” The" “Kokumin Shimbun”quotes an Army, spokesman, Colonel Mabuchi, as admitting that some Japanese anticipate that. Japan’s policy will be shifted from the Tripartite Pact. “However.” he says, “they are greatly mistaken. I think -that Japan’s sense of morality absolutely prohibits that. Actually. Japan would not gain anything bv changing her policy.” NEW YORK, September 25. The Associated Press Tokio correspondent states that Mr. Saburo Kuruso, who was Ambassador in Berlin when the Tripartite Pact was signed, told the Press to-day that the Japanese conversations with the United States are compatible with the spirit of the Tripartite alliance which aimed fundamentally to preserve peace, and only secondarily at the establishment of a new world order. Hence, Mr. Roosevelt and Admiral Ncmura talks were in harmony. Japan and America are responsible for the maintenance 'of peace in the Pacific, therefore they are responsible for the maintenance of world civilisation. EXCHANGE OF NATIONALS. WHAT DOES IT SIGNIFY ? (Rec. 1.30.) LONDON, Sept. 26. The Tokio correspondent of the / Press of Great Britain s He learns authoritatively that ttee Japanese Government is planning to send a ship across the Pacific to accommodate the Americans who are stranded in Japan, and to return wiSh Jtvnanese nationals from the United States. When . asked if this plan were connected with the bigger problem of the several trade relations between America and Japan, a Cabinet spokesman said that the twoway evacuation was merely “to serve an inconvenience.”