JAPAN'S POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24347, 11 July 1940, Page 7

JAPAN'S POLICY

ATTITUDE TG WAR A CHANGE PROBABLE RELATIONS WITH AXIS STRENGTHENING URED .':.'•• ' '■.:' '< ' •• '■: * (United Press Association) .(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) TOKIO, July 9. (Received July 10, at 11.30 p.m.) The Nichi Nichi Shimbun says the Minister for War, General Hata, is recommending to the Prime Minister, Admiral Yonai. the strengthening of the Tokio-Rome-Berliri axis through the abandonment of Japan's policy, a noninvolvement in the European war. It is predicted that a diplomatic change is only a matter of time since public trends are supporting the army. The Asahi Shimbun urged the Government to abandon further negotiations with regard to Burma immediately, and take the second stage, with appropriate measures, to smash the British Chungking assistance activities. BURMA ARMS ROUTE BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE RECONSIDERATION ASKED JAPAN AND AMERICA 'LONDON, July 10. (Received July 11, at 2 a.m.) A Tokio message states that the Foreign Office Spokesman, Mr K. Suma, said that the. Burma issue was not closed, asserting; that Britain's reconsideration had been asked for and that Japan desires an amicable settlement. Further developments are expected. . . Referring' to the Monroe Doctrine Mr Surria said: " Regardless of whether or not President Roosevelt's statement constitutes a new definition or modification of the doctrine, the fact cannot be disputed that the attitude taken by the president and "the Secretary of State shows that the United States has converted the primarily passive and defensive character of the doctrine to" a positive one." - V, China's Lifeline The Chinese Ambassador, Dr Quotaichi, in "a speech, said Britain was not alone in the fight for civilisation. " Transport across Burma is now China's lifeline and I trust and believe that despite any emergency it will be firmly

maintained. Russia and America, in addition to Britain and India, are interested in'its maintenance. Russia has. given great material assistance to China without political conditions. I hope the United States will ban war supplies to the aggressor instead of increasing its export and import trade with Japan. China's armed forces are much stronger that at the outbreak in numbers, quality, and experience. Japan has.suffered 1,500,000 casualties and has 1,000,000 men bogged down in China oh fronts totalling 2000 miles. We have given an assurance to our own people .and convinced the Japanese people that China is unconquerable."