“Have Fighting Chance Of Making Success Of My Mission”

Northern Advocate, 17 November 1941, Page 6

“Have Fighting Chance Of Making Success Of My Mission”

—Jap Envoy To U.S. NEW YORK, November 16. THE SPECIAL JAPANESE ENVOY TO THE UNITED STATES (MR. KURUSU) HAS ARRIVED IN WASHINGTON. THE SECRETARY FOR STATE (MR. CORDELL HULL) WILL RECEIVE MR. KURUSU AND THE THE AMBASSADOR (ADMIRAL NOMURA) ON MONDAY MORNING. In an interview on his arrival Mr. Ktirusu said: “I realise the diffienlty of my task, luit so lone; as the United States is sympathetic 1 think I have a fighting chance of making a success of my mission.” On his arrival at San Francisco on route to Washington. Mr. Kurusu said lie was optimistic about the chances of preserving peace in the Pacific. “There are many who want to bring our two nations into the war for their own advantage.” lie said. “We must look at things from our point of view.”

> Roosevelt’s Hope At his Press conference. President Roosevelt was asked whether war in the Pacific could be avoided, to which the President replied: “I sincerely trust so.” Informed quarters in Tokio said the Kurusu mission represented Japan’s last endeavour to break the Pacific crisis. If the United States really desired to maintain peace she should recognise Japan’s determination to surmount any obstacles in order to achieve her policies. It was pointed out that the special session of the Diet, which the Emperor will formally open this morning, has been convoked to unify the Japanese Empire’s 100,000,000 people towards coping with any eventuality. Limit Of Patience The Tokio newspaper “Hochi” predicted that Mr. Kurusu would frankly convey to Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Hull that the Japanese nation was reaching the limit of its patience on account of the strengthening of the encirclement line against Japan by the A.B.C.D. Powers. “The fate of the Pacific depends on the American leaders’ attitude towards this,” the paper said. A German agency says that the strongest Japanese political party will ask the Japanese Parliament for war with the United States. The “Japan Times”, official organ of the Foreign Office, says that Japan is determined to act strongly in its own interests and in the interests of the Pacific. Militant View The Tokio correspondent of the “New York Times” says 56 members of the Throne Aid League of the Lower House, which is the majority party, have submitted to the officers of the league a resolution urging the league to encourage the Government in the present situation, and adding: “The haughty attitude taken by the United States against Japan is beyond words. The Throne Aid League should point out the unbearable attitude of the United States in the name of the Japanese people, so as to make the world understand Japan's just assertions.” Message To Leopold, The Emperor Hirohito has sent a message of felicitations to King Leopold. of Belgium on the occasion of the anniversary of the King’s christening. The message has aroused considerable attention in diplomatic quarters in Tokio in view of the fact that Leopold is Hitler's prisoner of war. The Japanese Cabinet will request the special Diet session to appropriate 3.800,000,000 yen for extraordinary military expenditures which will make the aggregate war expenses under special account since the outbreak of war in China, 26,209,000.000 yen. The Japanese War Office has announced a drastic revision of the conscription regulations.