JAPAN RESOLUTE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 207, 2 August 1941, Page 7

JAPAN RESOLUTE

PURSUIT OF AIMS. PACT WITH THAILAND. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Roc. 8.5.a.m.) TOKIO, Aug-. J. The Minister of Finance Mr Ogura) said Japan could not retreat an inch from her fundamental policy of constructing a Greater East Asia. He warned the Japanese people to expect an increase in British and

American pressure, but emphasised that Japan’s .policy would be pursued without respite. The settlement of the Chinese war was vital—Japan owed that to 100,000 of her soldiers who had died in battle.

The Foreign Office has announced that Thailand has given recognition to Ma ncliukuo, to be effective from to-day. The authorities interpreted the move as Thailand’s decision to join Japan’s Greater East .Asia programme. The Information Board spokesman (Mr Ishn) lias announced that Japan and Thailand have signed an economic

agreement whereby Thailand will extend to Japan credits equivalent to I about fifteen million yon. Ky this means it is believed Japan will obtain from Thailand supplies ol rice, Mr Ishii said the economic agreement was be-i twecn the Yokohama Specie Hank and three large Thailand banks. The Domei Agency's correspondent at Bangkok predicted that the agreement with Japan would be followed sooner or later by Thailand's abandonment of her economic dependence on Britain in favour of voluntary econom-j ic co-operation with Japan. The Saigon correspondent says the Japanese army and navy commanders have expressed warm appreciation to the Government and people of French Jndo-China for the enthusiastic welcome and the many facilities given the i landing forces. Mr Ishii said the Hussian-Japane.se agreement had not been ratified be- : cause it was awaiting approval by the' Privy Council. However, it is dis-| closed that the Foreign Office is studying possible changes before ratification. The General Mobilisation Commission has approved an ordinance regarding! harbour management and .marine I transportation aiming at maximum: efficiency in marine transportation. It I is understood there are plans to estab-

lish a now semi-official agency coin pletely controlling all harbour facilities and all ships belonging to shipping companies throughout Japan

INDO-CHINA'S ATTITUDE. A message from Hanoi says Admiral | Decoux (uuvomor-Ueneral), in an interview, said Indo-( hina would cod- ' tinue as far as possible to maintain economic relations with Britain, America. China, and the Netherlands. lndo-C liina required from them supplies which at present were obtainable ' in insufficient quantities. Indo-China would do nothing likely Ito complicate the international situai tion in the Far Fast. Franco-Japanese accord was Vichy's business, but Indo- , China would loyally execute Vichy's ! agreement. The Associated Press correspondent ■ reports that, as Japanese troops con--1 tinucd to pour into Southern Indo China, the Press at Hanoi began to | exhibit a friendly attitude toward the : United States in presumably inspired I articles. The United State's Far East ! policy is described as far-sightedly ! aware of the Japanese danger and ! sympathetic to France. APOLOGY' ACCEPTED. In Washington the Assistant Secrei tary of State (Mr Welles) announced ! that Japan had promised an investigal tion of the bombing of the United I States gunboat Tutiula at Chungking j and full indemnities. The incident was now closed. The Japanese Ambassador (Admiral Nomura) had expressed official regrets and given an assurance that all precautious would be taken against a repetition of the incident. A San Francisco message states that the departure of the Japanese liner Tatuta Main received an unexpected check when importers filed libel actions, seeking possession of her valuable cargo, which includes 2,500,000 dollars worth of silk. On top of that millions of dollars worth of contraband United States currency had been smuggled aboard. Customs agents began opening every safe deposit box and searching every stateroom. The Tatuta Maru. with a largo li*t of anxious passengers, hovered off the coast for six days before docking until she received an assurance that the Customs Department would grant a clearance, but the ship's movements are now in the hands of the Justice Department. _