Curtin Causes Uneasiness in London

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 264, 6 November 1941, Page 5

Curtin Causes Uneasiness in London

Reference to Revision Of Far East Policy TWO JAPANESE ARRESTED IN INDIA United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 11.30 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 5.

The Labour Daily Herald’s dlplomatic correspondent says some uneasiness has been caused in London as the result of the mention by Mr. Curtin (Australia’s Labour Prime Minister) of important conversations at Whitehall concerning a revision of the Empire’s attitude to Japan. This is strictly true because a revision of the policy in the literal sense is continually going on as events change the situation. But there is no question of a basic change in Britain’s Far Eastern policy, nor has there been any discussion concerning that policy, let alone any move toward appeasement or a relaxation of economic measures against J apan. [Mr. Curtin has released no statement on these lines in Australia.] Two Japanese have been arrested in India, one at Karachi and tho other at Rangoon. The charges against them have not yet been announced.

In Tokio, the Japanese spokesman Mr. Ishii, said that the Washington negotiations had been virtually suspended. “We have said our last word,” he declared, “and for that reason wo expect, on the United States's side, a deeper understanding of Japan’s position.*’ A seven-point programme for the maintenance of Japanese-American relations was/ to-day outlined by the Japan Times and Advertiser, organ of the Tokio Foreign Office, which gives vhe warning that failure by the United States to accept this programme would cause the Japanese Diet, at its forthcoming session, to adopt defensive measures.

“Japan,” the paper declares, “proposes to stand pat for her rights and begin the breaking-through process.” The programme is as follows: 1. America must discontinue aid to China.

2. America must leave China free to deal direct with Japan to end hostilities and establish economic collaboration. 3. America must encourage China to make peace.

4. America must acknowledge Japan’s co-prosperity sphere and Japan’s leadership in the Western Pacific. 5. America must recognise Manchukuo.

6. America must lift the freezing orders.

7. America must negotiate a new trade treaty with Japan lifting all restrictions on shipping and commerce.

Mr. Ishii stated that Germany so far had not demanded that Japan should go into action under the tripartite military pact. He added that any Japanese de cision. would be made on the basis of her independent opinion. Speaking in New York on the situation in the Pacific, Sir Keith Murdoch, former Director-General of Information in Australia, who is on his way to visit Britain, said that Australian naval units from the Mediterranean were now beinjg concentrated in the Pacific, particularly off the northern coast of Australia. Sir Keith described the situation in the Pacific as still critical, but added that it had become very much better since the arrival of the United States Fleet in the Pacific. In his opinion, •Japan would go as far as she was allowed, but the Pacific situation would settle itself quickly if the organised strength of the democratic Powers was clear and ready.

All American women and children at Guam, Midway, and Wake Islands, in the Pacific, are being removed because of the tense international situation, says the Honolulu correspondent of the Associated Press of America.