JAPANESE MOVES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 193, 17 July 1941, Page 7

JAPANESE MOVES

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS. DEMOCRACIES ALERT. (United Press Association—Copyright. - (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, July 1C ; Rumours that Japan will soo > seek to take advantage of th i world situation in order to fulfi ;* the double purpose of helping he Axis partner and at the same tim , obtain prizes for herself grow ii • intensity. L The varied suggestions of the direc ' tions in which rumour forecasts tha such a move might take place an : held by some to indicate an eudeavou ! on tile part of the Japanese Govern inent to test British and American rc ! actions to each one of several possi 1 bilities. If such bo the object of tin attempted “nerve war,” the Japanesi ■ must be feeling considerable disap ! pointment at the results. Although the British and.Ameri can Governments are careful Ij watching the situation and arc keeping each other informed, they arc unlikely to satisfy Japanese curiositv but strictly between themselves have discussed what- steps should be taken in the event of a Japanese stroke materialising. Alcmbers of partnerships such as that existing between Japan iand Germany are lar more concerned with obtaining gains for themselves than pursuing a co-operative effort, and this reason makes it unlikely that any Japanese movement will be made against Russia, however much such action would be welcomed by Hitler. The fact is that the Japanese-Soviet Neutrality Pact would not, of course, be any bar to a Japanese attack —repudiation is common form in Axis circles. A more likely reason why a move in this direction may be discounted is that the Japanese army would have heavy fighting to do for little advantage. Any attack on Russia by way of the maritime provinces of Siberia would be opposed by large and efficient Russian forces which, in spite of the action in the west, are still untouched in the cast. In addition, further military moves would bo unpopular among a certain section of the Japanese Government 1 which is extremely averse to entrusting the generals with any more power, which such an operation would be , lxmnd, temporarily at least, to give , them. A MOVE SOUTH. A more promising indication is that any move decided upon would be in the south —a direction where the Japanese navy, hitherto more or less unemployed, could advantageously be used against Indo-China and Thailand, and where comparatively little resistance need be expected. Occupation, either by “Vichv lease” or otherwise, of Indo-China ports would give Japan strategic bases which would bo most useful should more ambitious action ever be contemplated. Also by a movement in this direction she would gain what is dear to Axis hearts —loot. For southwards lie rubber, iron, and other materials which Japan needs. The likelihood that, should the Japanese Cabinet be able to arrive at any unanimous decision, it would be to adventure southwards lias received some support from the propaganda campaign against Indo-China now being conducted in the Japanese Press as well as the assiduous declarations that .Britain is about to enter an -alliance with China. The latter type of assertion is a well-known prelude to Axis “defence action,” of which the declaration that Britain and Russia were about to enter an alliance was the last example.—Official "Wireless. BOMBING OF EMBASSY. REPEATED AFFRONT. RUGBY, July 15. The recent bombings of the British Embassy at Chungking were the subject! of questions in the House of Commons to-day. The Foreign Under-Secretary (Mr Butlerj stated that the Embassy was bomtied on June 2, 7. and 29, and during the last of these attacks a number of British and Chinese members of the Embassy staff suffered injuries. Mr Butler added that in response to representations made by the Ambassador in Tokio an expression of regret was tendered on July 1 by the Japanese Minister of Marine through his senior adjutant, and assurances were given that the attack was unintentional. However, another serious attack took place on July S, when the destruction :>f the Embassy building was completed, though the staff escaped further injury. | In view of flic repeated attacks the British Government instructed its Ambassador to make a formal protest and mint out that, even if the first attacks wore accidental, no care could have jeon taken to prevent the recurrence, sir Robert Craigie accordingly'present'd a. vigorous note of protest to the Tiee-M in ister for Foreign Affairs on July 10 and supported ' it by further I n-ai representations. The Japanese ricc-Minister exprescsd great regret at earning of this latest attack and pronised a further examination of the eir■u instances of the fresh attack.—Official Wireless.