AMERICA AND JAPAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24136, 1 December 1941, Page 6

AMERICA AND JAPAN

The fog of uncertainty s.till lies over the negotiations in Washington obscuring the exact state of Japanese-American relations. Tokio says the Japanese reply to Mr. Cordell Hull expresses dissatisfaction. The State Department says no reply has yet been received. These two statements are typical of a confused and contradictory situation. Meantime, though Mr. Roosevelt had planned to spend a long weekend at his favourite holiday resort, it is now reported that he may return to Washington to-day. At Singapore, another focal point in the wide area liable to be affected by what happens at the centre of negotiation, all leave for the troops was suddenly stopped on Saturday night, men already at large being summoned back to barracks. It is not safe to draw positive conclusions from things like this. The}' support the suggestions of deepening, anxiety in Washington and London, and of American patience worn thin. It is not possible to go further, for Japanese policy has been so tortuous, the face shown by Tokio has changed so swiftly and so completely in the past, that forecasts of what is going to happen must be at a discount. The latest public declaration by the Prime Minister, General Tojo, is so bellicose in tone that, taken alone, it might seem to spell the end of all negotiation. However, General Tojo has spoken in a similar vein at intervals ever since Mi 1 . Kurusu was sent to Washington. It may be bluster, but bluster repeated too often is dangerous, especially in a situation so delicately balanced as that affecting the Far East. The situation is unquestionablv serious.