TOKIO AND BERLIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22579, 18 November 1936, Page 13

TOKIO AND BERLIN

ANTI-RED TREATY REPORTED I DEFENSIVE CHARACTER* (Received November :17, 11.17 p.m.) : Times Cable LONDON, Nov. 17 The strictest censorship is being | carried out in Japan with regard to j news of an anti-Communist treaty ] between Germany and Japan which, in i spite of denials, is reported to be ; imminent, says a message from Sliangi hai. J The correspondent of the Times at j Shanghai states that according to adI vices from Tokio the reported agreei ment is less than a formal alliance, | but more than a mere declaration | against Communism. The following ! forecast shows the purely defensive I character of the agreement. The purpose of the agreement, it is ! emphasised, is to unite anti-Communist j Powers against the spread of Russian I influences. Probably it will provide for technical collaboration between the German and Japanese armies, also for German assistance toward Japanese rearmament. The agreement is not directed against China. On the contrary, Japan's policy is to secure China's adherence to it. J tilly, it is added, probably will adhere to the agreement, either directly or through agreement with Germany. Tho Japanese, it is said, originally hoped to include Britain in an antiSoviet front, but Britain refused to join in any project for dividing the world into Fascist and Communist blocs.