JAPANESE ACTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 198, 23 July 1941, Page 7

JAPANESE ACTION

“SOME SORT” LIKELY. . MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. LONDON, July 22. v- All reports from the Far Eas i- support the belief that Japanesi i- action of some sort is being pro t- pared. Railway traffic both ii ii Japan and JJauchukuo has beet 10 s< opped to permit of large-scab 1- military preparations. e | All Japanese reservists in occupiei iS China have been called up, and Jap anese troops are going to Northern Ciiina and Alanehukuo. I,s The new Foreign Aiinister (Vice 11 Admiral I'uyoda) declared to-day tliai his policy will remain identical will ‘I that of his predecessor (Air AJatsuokr, and that Japan wiii continue her ad " lierence to the Three-l’ower Pact. ® A statement read in English and '. French from the Singapore radio said - j well informed quarters in Singapore ‘" could only construe rumours of British activity in French Indo-China as preparing the way for Japanese aggression ; they were oi course, untrue. There are indications that Vichy is applying pressure to Admiral Decoux (Governor-General of Indr-China). p l which it is hoped ho will resist. Con ,! versations are reported to have begun Hat Vichy with the Japanese. a I Britain has given a categorical denial 'I that she proposes any activity in lndo- } I China. »| Japan to-day imposed a censorship , j of radio and cable traffic to America. , j Asked if he regarded the move as ’i significant. President Roosevelt replied I in the affirmative. ’j EAR EAST” TENSION. -j MOBILISATION TN JAPAN. LONDON. July 22. | All reports from the Far East indicate that big developments are imminent. The Japanese Prime Minister (Prince Konoyo), without- giving any reason, cancelled his Press conference; j this morning, and he has given no interviews to newspapermen since the : formation of the new Cabinet last week, i j There is news of large-scale mobilisation throughout Japan. Reservists are 1 j being called to the colours. j Japanese newspapers are full ot rumours of developments in Southern | Asia. The new Foreign Minister (Vice-] Admiral Toyoda) has given an' assurance to Germany and Italy that Japan will continue to uphold the spirit and, aims of the Three-Power Pact. 'the Times’s diplomatic correspondent] Isays that when the Japanese news- ] papers declare that the new Japanese ] Government brings no change of policy they seem to be writing the truth. Be-] fore Prince Konoye resigned last week,! much of the evidence coming to Britain sugested that Japan was planning to I take over naval and air bases in j French Indo-China. After Prince j Konoye returned to power with n I “stronger Cabinet,” the evidence pointled more clearly toward action veiy | soon. The movements of troops and warships confirm the diplomatic and political evidence. AY ILL USE FORCE A 7 ichy is aware of the demands being! made and is equally aware that Japan will use force if she is resisted. The newspapers in Tokio have sharpened their tone against Indo-China. Such comment is the customary preamble to demands. In the usual vocabulary of aggression, the Japanese are already ex-i casing any move by declaring them-; selves menaced, alleging that the Brit- 1 ish and Americans are increasing their; influence :;i Thailand and are thereby; encircling Japan. A glance at the man shows the hoi-]; lowness of this pretence. Bangkok, j; “the menace” to Japan, is about 2IHXJ] miles from Tokio. Thailand, winch the ; Japanese covet, is about 29U miles from!; Singapore. The Nichi Niehi Shimbun gives prom-.l < inenee to a report from the Hong!: Kong correspondent of the Domei News ; Agency that Chungking has concluded h a secret military agreement with Brit-1 ] ain and General do Gaulle, under which ‘ i Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s troops in i Km ansi and Yunnan are preparing to] invade Northern Indo-China. For this[< reason Britain is reported to have < started preparations to transport na- ■ tive troops to Southern Indo-China. j < The agency’s Hanoi correspondent], says that Britain, ivlio is said to have j , been making an effort to prevent Indo-] j China and Thailand from exporting ] , key materials to Japan, after opening; ; a branch office of the Economic Bureau ; in Singapore, is submitting through the I Aiinister (Air Crosby) certain economic ! demands on Thailand. It is believed, the adds, that the United States is co-oper-! 1 ating with Britain and has submitted 1 similar demands. j 5 A National Broadcasting Company jj broadcast from Afanila leported thatji plans are being completed to evacuate | > 300.000 natives and American women j t and children from Manila in the event 1 of a threat to the capital. It is said I the evacuees w ould be housed in con- L Crete warehouses on a sugar plantation , i an hour’s drive irom the city. 1 1