READY FOR ANYTHING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 195, 19 July 1941, Page 7

READY FOR ANYTHING

■i NATIONALIST TREND

BRITISH IN FAR EAST. WATCH ON JAPAN. LONDON, July 18. “We are ready for anything that comes —and that’s enough !” . declared a high authority at Singapore, commenting on the situation in the Ear East.

Reports continue to filter through from various quarters of Japanese designs on French Indo-China. It is suggested in. Singapore that any pressore will be brought to bear "on the Vichy Cabinet rather than Indo-Cliina herself.

It is noted that in Tokio an official statement has declared that the main lines of Japan’s policy were laid down at the Imiierial Conference early this month, and that “these have not been changed” by the overhaul of the Cabinet.

, n The new Japanese Cabinet has been h sworn in. The most notable feature is that Mr Matsuoka (Foreign Minister) ie has been dropped. Baron Hiranuma, )- a former Prime Minister, has been apj- pointed Minister without portfolio j and Ins iilace at the Rome Office has been taken by Mr Tanabe. a moderate. l Mr Ogura becomes Treasurer. Ihe London Daily Telegraph comments that Mr Matsuoka was dropped either because of the pact he conclud- : cd with Russia or a desire on the part 1 of the new Cabinet to loosen the ties I with the Axis, which Mr Matsuoka | had endeavoured to strengthen.

c 0 AXIS CONTROL REPUDIATED. ’ (Rem 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, July 18. nnco Konoye has formed a new Cabinet. The most notable change is - the omission of Air Alatsuoka and the > appointment in his stead of Air Toy- - oda. ' Ihe Cabinet changes are inter- ‘ preted to mean that Japan has repudiated the Axis direction of her policy, but that she is still pressing on with her ora ambitious aims in East Asia. The Cabinet is: , PREAIIER.—Prince Konove. ■ FOREIGN AIINISTER.—Mr Toyoda. ‘ 'V Alt AIINISTER.—GeneraI Tojo. NAVY AIINISTER.—AdmiraI Oikawa. AIINISTER OF JUSTICE.—Prince Konoye and Lieut.-General Koizumi, i AIINISTER OF OVERSEAS AFFAIRS, i Air Toyoda and Lieut.-General Suz- ! uki. MINISTER OF HOAIE AFFAIRS Air Tanabe. AIINISTER OF FINANCE.—Mr Ogura. RAILWAYS AND COMMUNICATIONS.—Air Sliozo Alurata. ! COAIAIERCE AND INDUSTRY.—Vice- ! Admiral Sakonji. . i AIINISTER OF EDUCATION.—Air K. ! Hashida. | AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY.— ! Air 11. Ino. MINISTER OF WELFARE.—Lieut.General Koizumi. AIINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO. —Baron Hiranuma. PRESIDENT OF THE CABINET PLANNING BOARD.—Lieut.-Gen-eral Suzuki. The United Press correspondent says the Japanese Press viewed the dropi I>ing of Air Alatsuoka with satisfac- | tion, attacking his recent policies, i particularly the Russian pact. It. j claims that what Japan needs is a I man able to see at least a year ahead, j The Domei Agency said it would be ! the new Government’s mission to guide j Japan along lines of tree foreign, policy. Third powers unfriendly toward Japan might exploit the Cabinet changes and broadcast false propaganda as though Japan’s foreign policy would be altered, but this would be only wishful thinking. British and American circles generally welcome Air Toyocla’s appointment, believing it foreshadows a more conservative policy. They point out* that the Cabinet is strongly nationalistic, and suggest it is likely to follow an opportunist policy. They do not believe the Cabinet will commit itself to conflicting treaty obligations. Chinese newspapers contend that the chief motive of the reorganisation is to tear up the neutrality agreement with Russia. The army and navy, in a joint statement, have called on the nation to unite in the rapid strengthening of Japan’s wartime structure. The main lines of the national policy established at the Imperial conference will remain immutable and independent of Cabinet. MODERATE? INFLUENCE. INTEREST IN BRITAIN. (Rec. 10.47 a.m.) RUGBY, July 18. The attitude in authoritative circles in London towards the composition of the new Japanese Cabinet is reserved for the time being and it is felt .it would be unwise to attempt to draw conclusions as to future Japanese action. The dropping of Air Alatsuoka and the pro-Axis extremists is, however, duly noted,'together with the inclusion of the well-known ex-Premier, Baron Hiranuma, and the big business representative, Air Ogura. Baron Hiranuma has boon known as a supernaturalist, but during his period in office as Premier, in 1939, he appeared to make genuine efforts to steer a middle course, harmonising the views of tho reactionaries and the more liberal elements.

AA’hile the new Government’s policy is still unknown, the preliminary disposition is to include that it will pursue a course strictly in accordance with purely Japanese aims.—Official Wireless.