EAST ASIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24372, 9 August 1940, Page 5

EAST ASIA

JAPAN'S AIM FRENCH RESISTANCE FATE OF INDOCHINA REPORTED DECLARATION (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) TOKIO, Aug. 8. (Received Aug. 9, at 0.30 a.m.) The Navy Spokesman, Admiral Kanazawa, said that the recent changes in Japan were most important. "It is Japan's responsibility to create a great East Asia bloc as a contribution to world peace." He said Japan was merely acting along world tendencies towards three or four regional blocs, ' whose cooperation is the only course to world peace." He cited the example of the United States's Pan-American activities.

A message from Shanghai states that the Chinese press reports that the Vichy "Government informed Marshal Chiang Kai-shek that France was standing firm over IndoChina and would resist any Japanese military moves.

ARREST OF SALVATIONISTS SUSPICION UNJUSTIFIED CONFIDENCE IN INNOCENCE ."Special ro Daily Times) WELLINGTON, Aug. 8. The conviction that an investigation would clearly establish that the suspicion of espionage held against the seven Salvation Army officers arrested in Japan was without foundation was expressed to-day in an interview by Lieutenant-commis-sioner J. Evan Smith, territorial commander of the Salvation* Army in New Zealand. News of the arrests had come as an unpleasant surprise to Salvationists and friends of the Army in New Zealand, said the commissioner. According to the cable messages, those arrested were Lieutenantcommissioner Masuzo Uyemura, territorial commander; Colonel Yasowo Segawa, chief secretary; and five other officers. The Military Spokesman had made the following amazing statement in commenting on the arrests: "We must take drastic action against. organisations which, under the cloak of religion, become the tools of spies and also propagate foreign and anti-Japanese thoughts detrimental to the thoughts and livelihood' of the general public." It was ridiculous, Commissioner Smith said, in view of the splendid record of the Salvation Army in its efforts for the good of the people, that such charges should be made against its officers. The Army regulations specifically laid it down that officers and soldiers were to seek to preserve the neutrality of the Army on all questions of party politics, violent national prejudices, antipathies to other countries, and the like. Such was the confidence placed in those controlling the organisation in Japan by the headquarters in England that there was only one British officer in Japan and he was in a subordinate position. Salvationists knew no colour, class, or, creed. They were international in their outlook and work, and wherever their tasks took them foremost in their minds was a recognition of, and an adherence to, the principle that they were members of God's Army, and must comfort themselves accordingly. Commissioner Smith emphasised the goodwill and practical sympathy which the Imperial Household and the Japanese Government had demonstrated over the many years of the Salvation Army's work in Japan It could only be concluded, he added, that there had been a misapprehension of the Salvation Army's purpose and ideals on the part of the present Government in Japan, and that an investigation of the charges made against the seven officers who had been arrested would result in their speedy release.

The Japanese Army authorities announced that it had arrested seven executives of the Japanese Salvation Army on suspicion of espionage. It was later announced in Tokio that, gendarmes had arrested the commander, Colonel Masuzo Uyemura, the chief secretary, Mr Yasowo Segawa, and five others, who were questioned.