Fear U.S., British Wedge Between Japan, Thailand

Northern Advocate, 8 October 1941, Page 6

Fear U.S., British Wedge Between Japan, Thailand

(Rec. 2.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 7. An increasing belief that United States and British diplomacy is driving a wedge between Japan and Thailand is reflected in the Japanese Press, says the Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain. The newspaper “Yomiuri” publishes a despatch from Bangkok which says the conferences at Singapore formulated the following demands:— (1) That Thailand give a specific assurance of neutrality; (2) that Britain be given priority for vital raw material; (3) that pro-Axis tendencies in Thailand be eradicated. “Threat” to Japan The “Kokumin” describes the conferences at Singapore and Hongkong as a threat to the establishment of a co-prosperity sphere and warned Japan not to remain indifferent. The “Asahi,” quoting a Manila correspondent, said the discussions concerned joint aerial action and the strengthening of the anti-Japan encircling front. The United Press correspondent says that Japanese papers are complaining that Japan is choking from the effect of suspension of trade with the United States and Britain. A Chungking military spokesman has announced that the Chinese armies have launched a counter-offensive and entered Ichang, where fighting is occurring in the streets. Huge fires raging might indicate that the Japanese arc abandoning the city.