Kurusu Sees President, Cordell Hull

Northern Advocate, 18 November 1941, Page 6

Kurusu Sees President, Cordell Hull

(Received 1 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 17. The Japanese Government special envoy (Mr. Kurusu) today called on the Secretary for State (Mr. Cordell Hull). He remained with him for 23 minutes, after which he went to see the President. His talk with Mr. Roosevelt lasted 70 minutes, delaying by more than 30 minutes the President’s scheduled conference with steel executives regarding the coal strike. Reuter’s correspondent in Tokio states that the tone of the speeches of General Tojo and Mr. Togo at the Japanese Diet session was pessimistic. The “New York Times" Tokio correspondent (Otto Tolischus) says Japan’s determination to continue her present policies is evident from the report on the military situation which General Tojo rendered to the Diet as War Minister. To Crush Chinese He declared that the Japanese forces from Manchukuo to Indo-China were making strenuous efforts to crush the Chungking Government and accelerate the construction of the “East Asia coprosperity sphere,” while completing all necessary preparations to meet any eventualities. General Tojo said Marshal Chiang Kai-shek was no longer able to take the offensive, but nevertheless further political and strategic efforts would be necessary to attain Japan’s objectives in the China campaign. The Australian Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin) said yesterday: “The danger to Australia in the Pacific is very, very great. No Australian knows when we may be called upon to defend ourselves.”