JAPAN "SOLD OUT"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23895, 24 August 1939, Page 11

JAPAN "SOLD OUT"

OPINION IN TOKIO SHORT LIFE FOR PACT OFFICIALS RETICENT (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) TOKIO, Aug. 23. (Received Aug. 24, at 2 a.m?) Officials are most reserved with regard to the pact, but it is commonly complained that Japan has been " sold out." The Asahi Shimbun predicts that the pact will be short-lived, and will merely be used by, Germany to assist to solve the Danzig issue. LESSON FOR JAPAN ASSURANCES VALUELESS PEKING, Aug. 22. Russia is expected to drive towards China now that she is free of Europe. It is considered that Japan has learned a bitter lesson of the value of anti-Comintern assurances. "A MASTER STROKE" TOKIO, Aug. 23. (Received Aug. 24, at 1.45 a.m.) The Foreign Office Spokesman said he was unable to interpret the Russo-German pact. Japan, however, expected Germany to provide stipulations to avoid inconsistency with the anti-Comintern pact. It is not thought that the pact will affect Japan's fixed policy to create a new order in Eastern Asia. The Domei Agency quotes a Foreign Ministry statement that the pact with Herr Hitler was a masterstroke, enabling him to settle Danzig while not contravening the antiComintern pact and not changing Japan's policy in Asia. herr Ton ribrentrop THE VISIT TO MOSCOW MOSCOW, Aug. 22. All the Soviet newspapers publish without comment the news of Herr von Ribbentrop's visit, surprising the average citizen. Representatives of the British and French missions conferred in the afternoon, but did not meet the RusHerr von Ribbentrop will bring a staff of 32 advisers, who will be quartered in a house next door to the British mission. ARRIVAL AT MOSCOW LONDON, Aug. 23, (Received Aug. 24, at 1.50 a.m.) Herr von Ribbentrop arrived at Moscow at 1 p.m. local time. He will see M. Molotov at 3 p.m. GERMAN DECLARATION ♦A WAITING ATTITUDE BERLIN, Aug. 22. The Official Spokesman declared that Germany was preserving a waiting attitude until the Russian pact was signed. "Danzig must come back to the Reich," he added. There were interesting developments The' Spokesman declared that the pact was not extraordinary. It was only natural that Germany would strive to break through ,the encoders. "The difference between our action and Britain's," he said, "is that we are not concluding a pact with Moscow aimed against Britain, whereas England tried to conclude one aimed against Germany." , . , It is emphasised that the pact does not affect domestic policy. , It is pointed out that Turkey is on excellent terms with Moscow, but does not tolerate a single communist at heme SWEDISH MINISTERS RETURNING TO POSTS STOCKHOLM, Aug. 22. Swedish Ministers abroad have been ordered to abandon their holidays and return to their posts. germaFwarships OFF THE DANISH COAST LONDON, Aug; 22. German warships were reported off the Danish coast carrying out mine-laying exercises. Sweden has ordered her second submarine squadron, which was due to visit Ostend, to remain in home waters.