JAPANESE DESIGNS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 194, 18 July 1941, Page 5

JAPANESE DESIGNS

DEMOCRACIES WATCHFUL.

PRESSURE ON VICHY

LONDON, July 17. Boih London and Washington are keeping 1 a close watch on the situation in Japan, and President Roosevelt is reported to have arranged to discuss the position with the Assistant-Secretary for State (Mr Sumner Welles).

A report lias been obtained from the American Minister to xoKio (Mr J. C. Grow). Close observers fee] that the more extreme elements in Japan may not be easily diverted from the course they have set themselves. Prince Konoye's efforts to form a Cabinet are reported to bo going on and he is said to have the support of the War Minister (General Togo) and Navy Minister (Admiral Okawa).

Both are advocates of Japan's "Divine mission in the Far East." but it is not known how they react to the attitude of Mr Matsuoka (Foreign Minister in the last Cabinet) to the war between Germany and Russia.

The Chungking Daily News comments: "If we believe the fall of the Cabinet was due to the extremist elements, we can see what the new Cabinet will 1)0 like.''

Authoritative circles in Singapore say the latest development makes no change necessary in British policy, the fulfilment of which is proceeding. Widespread rumours of Japanese pressure on the Vichy Cabinet for bases Hi Indo-China. for example Camranli Bay, have been denied in Vichy, but they are persisting. GERMAN HOPES. Berlin expects—that is to say hopes —that the new Tokio Cabinet will be entirely military. in a broadcast comment from London Mr Cyril Lakin said it would be only wise to suppose that the formation oi the new Government was a preparation for fresh military action, though it was uncertain where the action would be.

The diplomatic correspondent of the Times says that. Prince Kouoye has reorganised the Cabinet on lines more like Italian Fascism than anything else.

PURELY SELF-INTEREST

MOTIVE OF TOKIO

(Roc. 10.45 a.m.) LONDON. July 17

The selection of the Japanese Cab inet is expected to be completed tomorrow night. Prince Konoye is being assisted by, Lieut.-General leiichi Suzuki, the head of the political division of She China Affairs Board.

It is believed in official quarters in London that Japan has decided on a policy oi self-interest, not tying herself to either the Axis or the Moscow Pact. Such a policy would not- exclude southward moves con-

fined to indo-China and Thailand. There is reason to believe, says a Washington report, that Japan is likely to make the penetration of Indo-China and Thailand peacefully, namely by the occupation or strategic points on fix: ground of the necessity of maintaining the peace there. Japan may arrange a convenient request from Thailand to take over the maintenance of order on the basis of an alleged admission by the latter of their inability to do so themselves, with the consequent danger of chaos. The United States might overlook a more or less unobtrusive penetration on such terms, but there is reason to believe that overt seizures in these areas with a spectacular display oi military force would compel a strong American remonstrance. This would mainly be economic, involving probably limitations on petroleum exports and restrictions on the silk trade.

The Asahi Shimbun's Moscow correspondent says a representative of the Japanese Embassy lias demanded .an explanation of the Russian warning that the Siberian coast on the Kamchatka Peninsula has been mined.

In Shanghai the Associated Press i correspondent reports that the Japan- | ese Government has refused foreigners permission to travel from North China or Manchukuo by steamer to Kob3 until July 25. BASIC" POLICY UNCHANGED. A Tokio report says : The Emperor has directed Prince Konoye to form a Cabinet. An official announcement said that "Cabinet had decided to resign to make way for a stronger Government capable of the effective executive of national policies for coping with the ever-changing world situation. Cabinet felt keenly the necessity for the rapid strengthening of the domestic structure as well as drastic renovation within itself. Press comment is restrained and is not even speculating on the new Cabinet.

The Domci News Agency reports authoritative Government circles as saying that there will be no change i.i the Government's basic policies on the domestic and international situations, including Japan's basic policy established in Japan's peaco treaty to Nanking. The Cabinet Secretary (Mr Keuji Tomita), the Legislation Bureau Chief (Mr Naoki Murase), the' Planning Board Chief and President (Lieut.-General Teiichi Suzuki) and the Information Board President (Mr Nobumi Ito) resigned following the Cabinet resignation. COMPLETE MOBILIATION.

The United Press of America Bureau learns from Tokio that complete mobilisation is going on throughout Japan. The destination of the troops is not certain.

The Tokio vernacular newspapers report that the schools throughout Japan are remaining open for an additional fortnight, thereby relieving the current overburdened transportation facilities by keeping students from the trains.

Press reports from several sources disclose heavy Japanese troop withdrawals from China to unknown destinations. Army sources admit that Japanese troops are withdrawing from Canton, Swatow and Hainan Island in South China, while at least one di- \ isiou has left Shansi Province in Central China. It is increasingly believed in Chungking Government circles, says the New York Times correspondent, that the troop withdrawals, consisting of seven and a-holf divisions, may bo the prelude to new Japanese military and political action in the Far East, probably at Germany's behest.