JAPAN’S AIM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 88, 13 March 1941, Page 7

JAPAN’S AIM

AXIS CO-OPERATION. TBICKEBY lIST THAILAND. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Bee. 9 a.m.) TOKIO, Mar. 12. A Domei Agency broadcast quoted the Foreign Minister (Mr Matsuoka) before liis departure for Berlin and Borne as saying he was longing to explain the real significance of Japan’s foreign policy and to tighten. Axis co-operation with the aim of making substantial contributions toward the construction of a lasting peace and the new world order which formed the objective of the Three-Power Pact.

The newspaper Kokumin Shimbun declared that British and. American influence in South-Eastern Asia' had been struck a heavy blow. Mr Matsuoka and his party left their train to visit the shrine of the Sun Goddess at lse, near Osaka, following the ancient Japanese custom of paying homage to the Sun Goddess before embarking on a momentous mission. They will fly to Korea, continuing by train on Friday. “Now, stop by step, we are going to face Britain and America directly and frontally in South-Eastern Asia, as was the case on the Chinese continent, for which reason we must have a new determination.”

A Bangkok message says the Government lias asked all citizens to display the Thai and Japanese flags during the next few days in appreciation of Japan’s mediation in the negotiations with Indo-China. The Government has also announced that the air raid precautions are cancelled and says relations with Indo-China are again normal. A Saigon report states that the French authorities said: “Even while we were fighting, nearly 100 Japanese bombers flew to Bangkok from Hanoi in order to help the Thais, .who would not have started the war without Japanese support. Every Frenchman must condemn Japan for this trick.” Declining to comment publicly on the territorial cession, an official said that, judging from the Tokio reports, only the land formerly under the Thais will be returned’ to them. He said Angkor will remain French. ANGEII AROUSED. High French authorities said the mediation terms had caused more bitterness and anger against Japan than against Thailand. “The Japanese cheated Indo-China, breaking tneir promises while Indo, China kept hers. The Japanese in September promised to protect the integrity of Indo-China, but instead encouraged the Thais to rob Indo-China. Japan promised to mediate, but instead shamelessly supported the Thais. “Japan’s reward will soon' appear and will not be small. The I reneb resent this peace. However, they could not fight because they lacked materials and troops. We were not fighting the Thais only, but the Japanese equipped and advised Thai forces, using Japanese aeroplanes.” , . , . ■ ~ , The French authorities added that Japan’s victory was not diplomatic, but a victory through cunningness combined with the threat of armed force. ■ , They said that when the Japanese rewards for mediation were published undoubtedly they would reveal that the victory had brought Japan a step nearer southward expansion. The Press has bitterly attacked the land cessions and has also condemned the Domei Agency for bringing in false information concerning IndoChina and the negotiations ancl has simultaneously also blamed trench officials for not publishing sufficient information of the true course ot the Tokio negotiations.

JAPAN AND AXIS.

MR MATSUOKA’S MISSION

LONDON, March 11. , The Japanese Prime Minister (Prince Ivonovc). is to act as Foreign Minister during the absence of Mr Matsuoka, who is leaving Tokio to-morrow for a visit to Germany and Italy. He will travel to Europe through Siberia, ancl, according to the Berlin radio, will visit Moscow as welL as meet Hitler and. Mussolini. . The Tokio correspondent ot the Times Air Byas, says Air Matsuoka s journey to Berlin, Rome and Moscow is an evil omen for the Democracies in the opinion of anti-Axis Japanese circles, who claim that suggestions which have been made that it is only a fact-finding expedition arc not consistent with the fact that a liaison conference of the Cabinet and High Command has met four times Such protracted deliberations by the highest executive authorities in Japan would not be necessary if the journey were onlv a gesture. Air Matsuoka has disavowed an intention of mediating in Europe, but sources close to him know that he is profoundly impressed with the sense of disaster that may befall civilisation if the war continues till Europe’s leading nations are bled white, the correspondent says. Meanwhile';- by visiting Europe on the eve of Germany’s expected spring offensive, Mr Matsuoka is making a gesture of sympathy with tlic Axis. Some observers believe that gesture is all that Japan will do till it is clear whether Hitler can expect a quick and decisive victory or whether the war will drag

Oil. The Italian News , Agency says that after seeing Hitler Air Matsuoka will go to Rome during the first week in April for talks with Alussolini. “The spring-time forecast by the Fuehrer and the Duce is here,” comments the agency, “and Air Matsuoka’s visit may mark a decisive step toward more complete collaboration between Germany, Italy and Japan.”

REAL THAI . OPINION.

SYDNEY, March 12. Thirty women and children evacuated from Thailand have arrived here. Alost of them are the wives of tinmining engineers and officials in Thailand. One woman said everything was quiet when they left. The Thai police did not seem troubled by international disputes. They were neither pro-Japanese nor pro-British, and really were not pro-any tiling.

CONTROL OF BURMA ROAD.

CHUNGKING, March 11. An authoritative source announced that Dr. John Earl Baker, formerly of the American Red Cross, has been appointed director ot the KunniingBurma. Transportation Bureau, controlling the Burma Road. Dr. Baker’s task will be to keep tlie route operating smoothly and eliminate graft and corruption.