Military Occupation by Either Side Means War

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 187, 8 August 1941, Page 5

Military Occupation by Either Side Means War

Both Sides Anxious to Avoid

Catastrophe

I’ivss Assn. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Thursday, 10.45 p.m.

NEW YORK, Aug. 8,

The New York Times’ special correspondent (Mr. Otto Tolischns) in a dispatch says Tokio is haunted by the spectre oi encirclement by the A.B.C.D. Alliance ( American, Britain, China and Dutch). Japan further is alarmed to-day by reports that Britain is preparing a blitz to occupy vital points in Thailand, including Bangkok and ports on the isthmus of Kra in order to secure a land flank for Singapore. These reports picked up by the Domei News Agency are featured banner headlines in the Japanese press and though the accuracy of the reports is discounted in diplomatic quarters they are nevertheless grist to the mill of the activists since they are bolstered by authentic reports ox British reinforcements for Singapore and other more fanciful reports. In cool-headed circles all such steps insofar as they are actually taken axe regarded as natural defence measures In view of Japan’s proclaimed determination to push southward to advance her co-prosperity scheme. Similarly the massing of Thai troops in the ceded part of Cambodia despite its demilitarisation is regarded as defensive.

There is no doubt in any quarter here that Thailand has become the touchstone of peace in the Pacific. It is f eared that military violation of the territory of Thailand by either side would precipitate that war in the East which has been predicted for the last 20 years, but the best opinion here is that neither side is anxious to plunge into such a catastrophe especially while the European war remains undecided, and that Japan will stop short of crossing the Rubicon, while at the same time it i 3 regarded as most unlikely that Britain will provoke it. Some of the keenest but possibly the most optimistic observers believe the present tension is the darkest moment preceding the dawn and clarification and easing of the tension may be expected in the near future. Meanwhile the bitter tone of the press is reflected in the increasingly sullen attitude of the populace and while the United States was formerly regarded as enemy No. I—the newspaper Yomiuri declaring that the Philippines are a pistol pointed at Japan’s heart—the antagonism is now turning towards Britain. As a result of all these developments business is at a standstill.

An unconfirmed report is in circulation to the effect that Japan is forcing pressure on Portugal with the object of acquiring a base in Portuguese Timor, near the coast of Australia. Well-informed circles say Japan has 18 months’ supply of oil and six months’ supply of war materials. Nazi technicians are transforming Japanese industries, while considerable quantities of machine tools exported by Germany to Russia have found their way to Japan. Japanese factories, it is further said, are turning out tanks and armoured cars in large numbers, also planes at the rate of 1200 a month.

The Australian troops are on their toes, cables LieutenantGeneral Percival, oflicer commanding the British forces in Malaya. He refers to the vast organisation already built up with reinforcements continually arriving there. He says the occupation of Indo-China and the increasing threat to Malaya has placed Japan in a position to stage a surprise attack which will be adequately answered.