ECONOMIC “WAR”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23707, 14 January 1939, Page 9

ECONOMIC “WAR”

RUMOURS OF ACTION AGAINST JAPAN

DOMINION NOT APPROACHED (Per United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Jan. 13

X have heard nothing about it, nothing official, and I don’t expect to,” said the Prime Minister (Mr M. J. Savage) this afternoon, when he was' asked to comment on the Australian Press Association report from London that several countries would probably declare an economic war on Japan, The published report was the first that he had learned about the matter, Mr Savage added.

When it was pointed out that the report stated that the dominions had been consulted. Mr Savage said that the New Zealand Government had not been approached by any other Government, and he laughingly agreed that “ if the dominions have been consulted, this one has been insulted.”

The following cablegram from London was published yesterday: The Australian Associated Press says:—“ Rumours, apparently officially inspired, are current that Britain, in conjunction with France and the United States, is on the verge of declaring an economic * war ’ against Japan. The United Kingdom asked the dominions what part they would play if economic sanctions were imposed. The subject was raised during the conversations between Mr Chamberlain and M. Daladier in Paris. Mr Joseph Kennedy, the American Ambassador, conveyed to Washington an outline of Britain’s view, with the object of agreement between Britain and the United States on policy.”