ROOSEVELT MAY BREAK HOLIDAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24136, 1 December 1941, Page 7

ROOSEVELT MAY BREAK HOLIDAY

LESS OPTIMISM IN JAPAN PRECAUTIONS TAKEN AT SINGAPORE (Received November 80, 11.37 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 80 Following a long telephone conversation on Saturday night with the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, President Roosevelt may decide to cancel his holiday in Warm Springs, Georgia, and return to Washington on Monday. An agency message from Tokio, quoting an authoritative source, says the Japanese reply to Mr. Hull expresses dissatisfaction on important points. Optimism is sharply declining in Japan regarding the Washington talks. The State Department in Washington said to-day that there was no indication, except from reports from Tokio, that a reply to Mr. Hull's proposals was on the way. Possible Threat to American Supplies It is authoritatively stated that the patience of the United States Government with Japan is near exhaustion, and that another Japanese military move, whether against Thailand or elsewhere south, would be regarded as a Japanese attempt to dominate the whole Pacific area. The United States Government would not tolerate this, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Times. While the negotiations have not collapsed, the United States Government is deeply concerned over the possibility of the Philippines being encircled by Japan, and rubber, tin and other essential defence supplies being cut off by further Japanese aggression. Bangkok radio announced that United States nationals in Thailand had been advised to be ready to leave. All leave for troops in Singapore was stopped on Saturday night, when notices flashed at cinemas ordered all soldiers to return to barracks. It is emphasised in Singapore that this was only a precautionary measure. British Reinforcements Reach Singapore Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, British Com-mander-in-Chief in the Far East, welcomed a large contingent of reinforcements which arrived at Singapore from Britain at the week-end. They included artillery and infantry and nurses, many of whom had already seen service in other theatres of war. Convoys are now arriving with clockwork regularity at weekly intervals. The Governor of Burma has authorised the general officer commanding the armed forces to take over the Burmese frontier force. According to a Shanghai message, the Japanese are concentrating considerable light naval units, including cruisers, in South China waters, especially at Haiphong. It is believed the Japanese are strengthening their naval contingents to guard their supply lines in the event of a decision to move against Thailand. The United Press correspondent at Shanghai says the approaches to Kobe and Yokohama harbours have been mined.