BRITISH VIEWPOINT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 121, 20 April 1940, Page 8

BRITISH VIEWPOINT

EAST INDIES CONTROL. CLOSE CONTACT WITH U.S.A. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copvright.) LONDON, April 18. The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler) stated in the House of Commons that so far as Lord Halifax (Foreign Secretary) was aware, Japan had hot claimed the sole responsibility for the maintenance of peace in Dutch East Indies waters. The Japanese Foreign Minister (Mr Arita) had stated that Japan was deep-ly--concerned with developments which might affect the status quo in the Dutch Indies. Britain Held similar views. He added that Britain was keeping the L T nited States informed on all matters of common interest in the Ear East. The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press states that the Foreign Office spokesman (Mr Y. Sunia) said : “Our expression of view regarding the Indies was spontaneous and not aimed at any specific nation. It was actuated only by the recent developments in Europe. Japan hopes to prevent the spread of the European war to ' the Pacific and the step was taken in accordance with this wish.”