EAST INDIES DISPUTE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 122, 22 April 1940, Page 7

EAST INDIES DISPUTE.

PROVOKED BY GERMANY. NEW YORK, April 21. Tlic New 1 ork Times's correspondent at Shanghai, Mr H. Abend, says that sensational reports alleging that tho German Ambassador in To.io (General Ott) deliberately provoked the dispute over the Netherlands East Indies rave been sent by British, Dutch and other officials to their respective Governments. The correctness of the allegation cannot be ascertained in Shanghai. It is alleged that General Ott paid 20,000 yen (about £I3OO sterling; to a chain of Japanese newspapers for publication of a series _of alarmist articles, claiming that if Hitler invades Holland the Allies will seize the lia6t Indies. The articles deeply 'stirred the Japanese, and tho Foreign Minister (Mr Arita) fell into the German trap and issued his declaration on Monday asserting Japan’s interest in that area. General Ott’s motive was allegedly to embroil the United States in a war with Japan. 'Washington reports that the Japanese Ambassador (Mr Horinouchi), after an interview with the Secretary of State (Mr Hull) Mated that both Japan and the United States desire to maintain the status quo in the Dutch East Indies.