ISLANDS CRUISE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23699, 4 July 1940, Page 9

ISLANDS CRUISE

JAPANESE ADMIRAL POSITION AT HONGKONG NO BLOCKADE BY SEA, ; By Telegraph—Press Association—CopyrighJ (Received July 3, 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, July, S A despatch from Tokio states that Admiral Nomura, former Foreign Minister, has announced that in the course of a month's cruise he will visit Davao, in the Philippines, and Menado, in Celebes, "to inquire after the health" of the Jkpanesa residents. He said he would also visit the Pelew Islands, east of the Philippines.

The Japanese Consul-General at Hongkong revealed that the British Consul-General at Canton, Mr. A. P. Blung, is negotiating with the Japanese authorities to lift the restrictions on imports of foodstuffs to Hongkong from Canton.

The Japanese, he said, were not blockading Hongkong, but were merely severing its communications with the interior, since foodstuffs could be imported into Hongkong if special permits were obtained. He added that there was no question of a sea blockade. An Australian freighter has left Manila for Hongkong, says a Hongkong cablegram. She is carrying ISOO tons of water instead of the usual 400 tons, and also additional supplies, which will enable the ship to take on 500 or 600 of the British persons to be evacuated. Rolls of Barbed Wire The ship also carries rolls of barbedwire and hundreds of kegs of nails, which can be used for barricades, as well as other emergency stores for use in the event of Hongkong being besieged. Major-General E. F. Norton, who is at present Commander of the Madras District, succeeds Sir Geoffrv Northcote as Governor of Hongkong. He will .be the first military Governor of Hongkong since 1912. A message from Shanghai says that the authorities there are very much concerned over Wang Ching-wei's demand for the arrest of 84 prominent Chinese residents in foreign areas, on charges of agitating against the Nanking Government. "There is no doubt," it was stated, "that the action is of Japanese origin, and is connected with the long-existent Japanese programme to eliminate all Chinese opposing Japanese aims," ' Implications of Order The Nanking regime has no jurisdiction over foreign areas and the order is believed to signify impending forceful measures against the settlements or a long-drawn-out programme of kidnappings and assassinations. Defence precautions at Singapore afe being continued. An order has been issued forbidding, the movement, .of smii.ll craft in Singapore territorial waters between sunset and sunrise.

Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura (retired) has been . secretary to the Minister of the Navy attache to the Japanese Embassy at "Washington, and vice-Chief :of the Navy General .Staff. He also served as director of the Navigation Instruction Bureau and commander of the Training Squadron. He was Foreign Minister for a short period at the end of last year. NAVAL AGREEMENT BRITAIN' AND" AMERICA JAPANESE ALLEGATION USE OF BASES IN PACIFIC July 4, 12.10 a.m.) TOK'IO, July 3 The Japanese military journal Koktimin states that reliable information has been received that the United States is behind Britain's stiff attitude to Japan's demand for the elimination of assistance to the Chinese. "A secret, large-scale naval agreement between Britain and America regarding the Pacific is about to be concluded," says the Kokumin, "permitting each other's navies to use Cavite (Manila), Singapore, Port Darwin, Honolulu and Dutch Harbour, (Alaska), and also putting Hongkong under American control." The paper says the purpose of the agreement is to form a "horseshoe encirclement" of Japan on the Pacific. DENIAL IN LONDON LONDON, July 3 Comment is made in London to-day on statements appearing in Japanese newspapers that the United States and Britain are about to sign an agreement: This news from the Tokio press, it is stated, is the first that British circles have heard of it. CLAIM TO GREENLAND NORWEGIAN NAZI PARTY (Received July 3, 11.10 p.m.) STOCKHOLM. July 3 The Norwegian Nazis have announced a new programme based on the forfeiture of Greenland and the Faroe Islands to Norway.

Quisling's newspaper Frittfolk, outlining the programme, attacks Britain and Denmark, and claims Denmark received Greenland as the result of British intrigue. The Copenhagen correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper Dagens Nyheter says the Danish police dispersed with batons a demonstration by the Danish. Nazi Youth Movement, and arrested 100.

GERMAN PRISONERS ARRIVAL IN CANADA QUEBEC, July 2 The first German war prisoners evacuated from Britain were landed from an armed merchantman and sent to internment camps. They included soldiers, sailors, airmen, merchant sailors and civilians. On the voyage they were guarded by 250 British troops. When the prisoners landed they carried their personal belongings, musical instruments and cook« ing utensils.