FAR EAST AREA

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24084, 1 October 1941, Page 7

FAR EAST AREA

BRITISH RELATIONS DIPLOMATIC MOVEMENTS JAPAN AND CHINA AFFAIR (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Sept. 30 Far-reaching readjustments in the British Dominions and possibly in diplomatic arrangements in the Far East are visualised in Singapore. This is based on a number of factors, including the wide scope of the talks conducted by Mr. Duff Cooper, the fact that the Australian Minister to Japan, Sir John Latham, will call at Singapore on his journey back t.o Australia, and the appointment of the Netherlands Consul-General to Australia, Mr. T. Elink Schuurman, as first Netherlands Minister to Australia. The Japanese news agency in Singapore, when announcing Sir John Latham's departure from Yokohama and hi? intention to call at Singapore, described his visit as "significant." It also referred, to the presence here of British envoys to China and Thailand. Authoritative circles in Singapore, however, deny that there is any special significance associated with Sir John Latham's proposed visit. A message from Tokio says the Japanese spokesman, Mr. Ishii, revealed that the British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, recently informed the Foreign vice-Minister that he was going to Shanghai "on short leave," but Mr. Jshii did not state whether Sir Robert ( raigie yesterday cancelled his trip for good or temporarily. Mr. ishii added that Japan was trying to solve the China affair militarily and also diplomatically. He elaborated his use of the word "diplomatically" by explaining that Japan was negotiating indirectly with various countries. He declined to admit that "indirectly" meant in a round-about way with C'h ungking.

CANNOT STAND HEAT JAPANESE IN INDOC HI N A TROPICAL AILMENTS RIFE (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) MANILA, Sept. 30 A traveller from Saigon said that the Japanese troops are unable to stand the heat there. During the last nine weeks 600 troops had returned to Saigon from the Thai border suffering from tropical ailments. He said there were only 23.000 Japanese troops in Indo-China. although Japan expected originally to 'have had a garrison of at least 40.000 there by August. A message from Honolulu states that Mr. Hugh Grant, formerly United States Minister at Bangkok, interviewed on his way home, said: "Thailand certainly will resist a Japanese invasion, which is now unlikely because of the probability of Allied opposition." NO PROGRESS IN TALKS JAPAN AND UNITED STATES Washington, sept. 29 Informed circles believe the exploratory peace talks between the United States and Japan are not making progress because of Japan's failure to give guarantees regarding her future actions, says the United Press correspondent. Diplomats have not yet abandoned hope of finding a solution, but nevertheless are somewhat discouraged. It is understood additional conferences will be held between .Mr. Cordell Hull and Admiral Nomura, Japanese Ambassador at Washington, this week.

OXFORD GROUP CHARGES AGAINST LEADER MR. HERBERT'S ALLEGATIONS LONDON, Sept. 29 -Mr. A. P. Herbert, M.P., sent to Mr. Ernest Bevin, Minister of Labour, a secret document about the Oxford Group. In a letter to Mr. Bevin, Mr. Herbert said: "I believe I)r. Frank Buchman, leader of the Oxford Group, is not a true friend of Britain. The document is not the only ground for this belief. "If I am right the widespread organisation in Britain under his influence, and perhaps his orders, may, in circumstances not difficult to imagine, be a danger to a state of peace. "The move blessed by Dr. Buchman, and spread in perfect good faith by numerous popular followers, might have a deadly effect. I do not suggest that they are not true patriots, but the more innocent they are the more dangerous they may be." Referring to Mr. Bevin's refusal to exempt the Oxford Group evangelists from military service, Mr. Herbert says: "Until members of the group disown Dr. Buchman they deserve and should receive no special consideration from the State." Dr. Frank Buchman, American religious leader, was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1902. He founded the Lutheran Settlement in America in 1907. But it was as founder and leader of the Oxford Group Movement that he became internationally famous. He has made several world tours in connection with the movement. In 1929 he toured South Africa, in 1932-1934 Canada and the United States, and between 1934 and 1937 he paid several visits to the Continent. He is noted for having acclaimed Hitler as the saviour of Europe from the threat of Russian Communism. WARTIME ACTIVITIES BUILDING-UP MORALE [BY TKI.KfiRA PH —PRKSS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The Wellington headquarters of the Oxford Group Movement to-night issued a statement that since the outbreak of war the activities of the Oxford Group have been directed toward building up the national morale. For many years the group had cooperated with national and local leaders to train a force of panic-proof, fearfree citizens, and war conditions have increased this co-operation and the demand ror it. The statement adds that in addition to many thousands of Oxford Group supporters who are in the armed forces, over 250 of the most experienced whole and part-time group workers are now serving in the Army, Navy or Air Force. Thirty-two whole-time workers were left to carry on the group organisation throughout Britain, their ages ranging from 25 to 60. All these had been whole-time evangelistic workers since before the war started, and many of them had received full theological training for ordination.