SOVIET AND JAPAN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 262, 3 October 1940, Page 7

SOVIET AND JAPAN

HINT OF NEGOTIATIONS. ( // T ( ~ - NON-AGGRESSION PACT. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 9 a.m.) TOKIO, Oct. 2. The Foreign Office spokesman (Mr Y. Suma) to-day made no comments on Press reports that Germany and Italy are encouraging a Soviet non-aggression pact with Japan. However, lie said that if the Soviets take the initiative Japan will consider negotiations. Mr Suma said Mr Tatekawa, a plenipotentiary, was going to Moscow, authorised to conduct all negotiations. “So far as the European war is concerned, -Japan remains quite neutral, despite the conclusion of the tripartite pact,” the spokesman declared at a Press conference. The spokesman added: “The pact has simplified rather than complicated Japan’s relations with Britain, because it leaves Britain only one course in dealing with Japan, namely, recognition of the new order in this part of the world, while any country against the new order will be regarded as refusing co-operation with Japan.” He stressed that' Japan bad never abandoned hopes of a readjustment of relations with Britain. The Yomiuri Shimbun urges the Government to improve relations with the Soviet in view of a prospective American diplomatic advance to the Soviet. . The Asahi Shimbun and Hochi Slumbun advise the Soviet to abandon its policy of assistance to Mars Mil Chiang Kai-shek in order to remove the obstacle to a rapprochement with Japan. Mr Tatekawa is reported to be leaving for Moscow on October 11. VEILED THREAT. The Yomiuri Shimbun says that if Britain refuses to continue the closure of the Burma route Japan will not request it, but will resort to her own measures for the removal of all obstacles to Japan’s mission. . Jt said that a British refusal was indicated from recent Anglo-American activities, particularly America’s reaction to the tripartite pact. The Asahi Shimbun said world concern was focussed on what countermeasures Britain and the United States would take to cope' with the situation arising from the tripartite pact. Britain was reported to have started negotiations with the Dominions for the prohibition or exports of munitions and materials to Japan. However, only tin, rubber, and iron ores from Malay and copper from Canada were affected, for which reason Japan would not feel the pinch. “Britain apparently knows what a serious situation would arise if such an embargo were extended to the Malay Peninsula, therefore it is unlikely that Britain will take such a step" lightly and recklessly,” says the paper! BUSINESSES W OUND UP.

The Domei News Agency’s London correspondent says that after the signino- of the three-Powor pact Japanese firms and banksi n Britain are winding up their businesses in preparation for evacuation. The Nichi., Nielli Shimbun says , that joint technical , commissions will be established soon in Tokio and Berlin to implement the pact. Becatise or tlio importance of the _ commissions, which would be divided into political, military, and economic categories, “men of large calibre” will be appointed, it says. The Moscow radio quotes the Government organ, Izvestia, as saying that Russia will continue in her policy or neutrality. BRITONS FINED. The British Embassy said that of the seven Britons convicted of breaches of the Military Secrets Protection Law and the naval and criminal codes ol the Military Resources Protection Law, J. H. Janies had been fined 500 yen without a trial; E W. Janies, H. MacNaughton and J. Drummond 200 yen without a trial; Michael Ringer had been sentenced to 14 months imprisonment with four years stay or execution; Vanya Ringer had been fined 150 yen, also sentenced to months’ imprisonment with four years stay of execution; aiid Trafford bad been released after trial without sentence. The other three were still under investigation. ACUTE CRISIS.

Mr Hosthio Mitsunaga, as president of the Nippon Press Association, lias telegraphed Mr Boy Howard (who recently visited New Zealand with a party of newspapermen) asking for the guidance of the American public so peace may be preserved in the Pacific area.

“The crisis was never so acute,” he says. “It may be averted if America abandons the iortification of Pearl Harbour, Guam and Midway, gives up her support to Marshall Chiang Kai-shek, and enforces trade to normality, otherwise an armed clash is inevitable in the near future.”

The Yomiuri Shimbun’s Hong Kong correspondent says Chinese troops are likely to invade Indo-China by the week-end. The Japanese military have announced new restrictions on the exportation of furs, which American buyers say amount to an embargo. Tlie Japanese authorities have offered the Americans prices for the existing stocks far below the market value.