JAPAN'S ATTITUDE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23999, 24 June 1941, Page 7

JAPAN'S ATTITUDE

RETICENCE OP PRESS

WATCHING POLICY LIKELY NEW ORDER IN EAST ASIA fßecd. 11 p.m.) LONDON, June 23 The Japanese press has refrained from speculating whether Japan will observe her treaty obligations, says a message from Tokio. However, it is expectedthat Japan will follow an independent diplomacy intended to achieve her major objective— a "new order" in East Asia. The papers maintain an impartial attitude. German sources in Tokio say that Germany will not ask Japan for anything in connection with the Russian hostilities.

Authoritative Japanese circles expect that the Soviet will send a Note to the Foreign Office asking Japan to observe strict neutrality. Speculation regarding the future of Japanese policy is forbidden. Russian officials in London, in discussing Japanese reactions, point out that Russo-Japanese relations are governed bv the Neutrality Pact.

Well-informed circles believe that tlie Japanese Government had advance notification of the impending Russo-Gennan hostilities, and therefore refrained from precipitating a crisis in the Netherlands East Indies. It is expected that Japan will silently and watchfully await the events of the next few weeks of warfare. CHANGE IN ATTITUDE POSITION OF COMMUNISTS MR. W. M. HUGHES' COMMENT SYDNEY, June 23 "Those strikes and lockouts which have interrupted our war effort have been stirred up to a large extent by Communists' propaganda. Now I expect things will be different." said the Minister for the Navy, Mr. W. M. Hughes, in commenting 011 the news of the war between Russia and Germany. "Everybody is my friend who stands on my right hand in this fight. I do not care whether be calls himself a Communist or a capitalist. I say to my comrades in the Communist Party: 'You have made some remarkable changes of front in the past, but your attitude should now he clear and unmistakable.' " "WILL SMASH GERMANY" BERNARD SHAW'S BELIEF (ftsrd. r,.r> p.m.) LONDON, Juno '2'2 "Either Hitler is a greater fool than I took him for, or lie has gone completely mad," said Mr. Bernard Shaw. "Why people seemed to think Hitler could beat Russia I cannot imagine. The news is beyond anything we could have hoped for. "Yesterday Britain and America faced the tremendous job of smashing Hitler with Russia looking on smiling. To-day they have nothing to do but sit and smilo while Stalin smashes Germany. Now you will see what will happen. Germany has not a dog's chance." COMMONS STATEMENT (Reed. 7.n0 p.m.) LONDON, June '2'2 The British official wireless states that, according to an announcement lY.om JO Downing Street, owing to the foreign situation the debate on shipping which had been arranged for the next sitting in the House of Commons will bo postponed. A statement will be made on recent developments in foreign affairs.