BURMA ISSUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23708, 15 July 1940, Page 7

BURMA ISSUE

BRITAIN AND JAPAN r VIRTUALLY AGREED REPORTS FROM • TOKIO CHINA'S ARMS SUPPLY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 14, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 13 The Japanese Foreign Office spokesman, in a statement, said that the British Ambassador to Tokio, Sir Robert Craigie, and the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Arita, in their talks on the Burma Road issue, had made "satisfactory progress." It was hoped to issue a fuller statement on Monday. The Tokio correspondent of the Times states that the Burma Road question is virtually settled. All the principal difficulties were overcome at yesterday's meeting between Sir Robert Craigie and Mr. Arita.

The Japanese vernacular newspapers chorus that Sir Robert Craigie and Mr. Arita reached a basic understanding for the suspension of the transport of arms and supplies for Marshal Chiang Kai-shek over the Burma route to China.

They state that Britain has accepted Japan's demands in the following terms: —(1) Britain will prohibit transportation of arms, ammunitions, trucks and petrol; (2) if necessary, Japanese consular agents at Rangoon may examine the actual results of such prohibition; (3.1 the British authorities at Hongkong have already acted prohibiting traffic to China.

The Tokio Nichinichi Shimbun, in a leader, says Japan should take over the Dutch East Indies, even fighting the United States, should the latter interfere.

ROAD'S SIGNIFICANCE INTERESTS OF POWERS RUSSIA AND UNITED STATES LONDON", July 11 "Most of the material passing along the Burma Road is Russian, and some of it is American. Very little is British," says Mr. Vernon Bartlett, M.P., in discussing Japan's representations for the closing of the route. "Most Governments, including our own, are pledged to facilitate the supply of war materials to the Government of China as a victim of aggression. "Even if we were willing to go back on that pledge, in the hope that the aggressor's greed thereby would be modified, the Chinese ability to resist would not be greatly diminished. The heavier and more important war materials would still go to China from Russia, and Britain's position would be weakened, in that both the United States and Russia would doubt whether their views and ours were identical. "It is clear, in spite of the immediate dangers, which were increased by the reported assassination of the Emperor of Annam, who was very proud of his close links with the French, that Britain, the United States, and Russia have very important economic cards which they could play. "It is, therefore, improbable that they will forget that the Chinese are holding in check Japanese ambitions elsewhere. These include the building of a Japanese barrier between the Pacific and Indian Oceans by the capture of Indo-China and the Dutch East Indies. "These territories have important defence forces, particularly the East Indies, which now have been reinforced by warships from Holland. "There is a strong desire for a settlement of the whole Far Eastern problem. The desire is shared by the two belligerents and by Britain, the United States and Russia, but it could not be realised on the basis of a betrayal of the Chinese National Government, which could continue resistance even if all foreign supplies ceased. "On the other hand, it is increasingly clear that a rapid and satisfactory settlement can only Vie achieved by close collaboration between London, Washington and Moscow."