JOINT ENEMIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 265, 7 October 1940, Page 8

JOINT ENEMIES

JAPAN AND AXIS. DICTATORS’ PLANS. (United Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, Oct. 4. The Times, announcing that the Chinese Ambassador (Dr. Quo Tai-chi) visited Mr Churchill and discussed the Burma Road case, say 6 Japan’s attitude does not justify the extension of the Burma Road agreement. Japan has thrown in her lot with Britain’s enemies. , It is believed in some Far Eastern circles that Japan’s operations in Indo-China plan to make a demonstration towards Singapore, possibly through Thailand when the Axis strikes in the Mediterranean. CHALLENGE TO AMERICA. A Tokio message says Mr Matsuoka (Foreign Minister) said Japan will be compelled to fight the United States if the United States enters the European war or insists on the preservation of the status quo in the Pacific. “I fling this challenge to America : ‘lf she blindly and stubbornly sticks to the Pacific status quo, we will fight, for it is better to perish than maintain the status quo.’ Frankly, the Japan-Axis Pact is intended to prevent United States involvement in the European war.

- “We all fear it would then develop into a vital and disastrous conflict which we wish to avoid,” said Mr Matsuoka. “This pact is an eloquent expression of Japan’s wishes, but it is a -peace pact, and Americans must understand it as such.”

He added that Japan cannot longer be strangled in her desire to establish a new order of mutual prosperity in East Asia.

He declared that England and America had forced the Axis into the use of force in Europe.

“Whether or not the European war becomes -a world war is purely in the hands of the United States. Americans must see clearly the spirit of the Tripartite Pact, which is candidly aimed at them. Japan would welcome frank and rapid diplomatic exchanges with full understanding, but if the United States continues measures such as the tightening of the embargo she will only further anger Japan.”,

The Rome radio stated that Hitler and Mussolini discussed the military and political programme of the war, which had reached a decisive stage. The world would soon see the- outcome, but definitely there was no plotting against any nation not involved. The meeting was of historic moment and vast importance. The leaders had not fixed the date for victory ; the two nations would achieve this whenever and wherever the decision came.