THE PACIFIC

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 23 October 1941, Page 4

THE PACIFIC

CHANCE OF AVERTING WAR JAPAN’S FEAR Ol OPPOSITION BRITISH PRESS COMMENT Rugby. Oct 21. Commenting on the Australian Prime Minister’s remark that cohesion had been established between th«‘ democratic Power* in (he Pacific, which had substantially in creased the Australian power to resist attack, the “Daily Telegraph” states: “Whatever chance there may be of averting eventual war in the Pacific rests solely on Japan’s fears of the opposition she will meet and nothing could be better calculated to impose discretion, even on her hotheads, than the certainty of unison between the British Empire, Holland and the United States.” The “Daily Telegraph.” referring to General Tojo’.s statements that Japan was “standing at the crossroads of life or death” and her desire to “contribute to world peace” by settling the China incident, suggests that such lan guage is a “common form with Jap anese Prime Ministers on their advent to office,” and states that “Prince Konoye was just as adept at those rhe torical demonstrations as his more extreme successor.” The “Daily Telegraph continues: “Evidently we shall have to wait and learn by experience what really lies behind this smokescreen of bellicose platitudes. For the moment things appear to be continuing very much on the same lines as before, particularly in the matter of the ‘peace’ talks which have been in progress since the begin [ning of last month. What Japan has ever expected to gain from these talks ihas always been something of a mys I tery. Certainly she lias never had the i smallest prospect of getting the two things she chiefly wanted from the United States—recognition of ‘co pros . perily’ and the relaxation of the eco nomic embargo. Whatever her purpose, the fact that General Tojo ha< not abruptly cancelled the parleys rather suggests that no spectacular adventures are contemplated in the immediate future —unless any develop ments in the Russian campaign should occur to precipitate matters.” The Tokio “Nichi Nichi Shimbun” says to-day that the success or failure of the negotiations between Japan and America depends on America's atti jtude. If the limits which Japan has ifixed are passed, she must be prepared •for the worst situation. If the United States persists in misunderstanding Japan's attitude Japan would not wish to continue the discussions.—B.O.W.