TOKIO'S ADVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23780, 7 October 1940, Page 7

TOKIO'S ADVICE

AMERICAN POLICY "REALISE SITUATION" AXIS POWERS' SPHERES (Received October 6, 7.10 p.m.) TOKLO, Oct. 5 "The United States should understand Japan's true intentions and collaborate in establishing a new order in East Asia," said Prince Konoye, in a statement in Tokio.

"I believe the United States should reflect on the attitude she has been taking against Japan and obtain a fuller realisation of the existing situation. Should the United States recognise the leadership of Japan, Germany and Italy, respectively, in East Asia and Europe, they would logically recognise the United States' leadership in the American continents.

"The adjustment of political and economic relations with the Soviet will be continued, but this does not signify that Japan will accept Communism." * Prince Konoye added that negotiations between Japan and the East Indies were progressing smoothly and fairly satisfactory results could be expected. Interview Repudiated The Japanese Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. Suma, denied that the Foreign Minister, Mr. Matsuoka, had made a statement regarding Japan's relations with the United States as was reported yesterday. Mr. Suma alleged that the report was a garbled version of an interview which Mr. Matsuoka gave to a contributor to Liberty, a magazine.

Th'is report alleged that Mr. Matsuoka said Japan would be compelled to fight the United States if the United States entered the European war or insisted on the preservation of the status quo in the Pacific. "I fling this challenge to America," Mr. Matsuoka was reported as saying. "If she blindly and stubbornly sticks to the Pacific status quo we will fight for it, for it is better to perish than to maintain the status quo. "Frankly the Japan-Axis pact is intended to prevent the United States from involvement in the European war. We all fear it would then develop into a vital and disastrous conflict which we wish to avoid. This pact is an eloquent expression of Japan's wishes, but it is a peace pact and Americans must understand it as such.

"Cannot Be Strangled" "Japan cannot be any longer strangled in its desire to establish a new* order of mutual prosperity in East Asia. Britain and America forced the Axis into the use of force in Europe. "Whether or not the European war becomes a world war is purely in the hands of the United States. Americans must see clearly the spirit of the tripartite pact, which is candidly aimed at them. Japan would welcome frank and rapid diplomatic exchanges with full understanding, but if the United States continues measures such as tightening the embargo she will only increase tne anger of Japan."

BELGIAN PRISONERS RELEASE FROM GERMANY LONDON, Oct. 4 The correspondent of the Times in Belgium says German newspapers in Belgium announce that Belgian prisoners of war in Germany, except professional officers, will be released before the winter. The Germans apparently do not wish the responsibility of feeding them during the whiter.