GERMANY AND JAPAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24413, 26 September 1940, Page 7

GERMANY AND JAPAN

‘ ‘ DEFENSIVE ’ ’ ALLIANCE AN AGREEMENT REPORTED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SHANGHAI, Sept. 25. (Received Sept. 26. at 1.15 a.m.) Authoritative reports from Tokio reaching Shanghai say that Japan and Germany have agreed in principle on a defensive alliance, to become effective in the event of British and American collaboration, such as in regard to the Singapore Base, in which case Japan would abandon her noninvolvement policy. It is further stated that Hitler’s personal representative, Herr Stahmer, has negotiated a provisional Japan-German defensive pact, which envisages a world-wide diversion of American attention, especially to South America and the Far East. Authoritative sources in Tokio declare that the Japanese Imperial Conference on September 19 approved of an alliance with Germany in principle. The announcement, however, will be delayed, pending the Privy Council’s formal ratification It is understood that the pact does not envisage immediate Japanese abandonment of her non-involvement policy, but sets a policy to meet the Anglo-American front It is further stated that the alliance includes German assurances of good offices toward Russia, amounting to a Russo-Japanese non-aggression pact, thereby freeing Japan’s move southward.

It is understood that the alliance is Germany’s proposition, and is designed to avert full United States support for Britain. Observers interpret the alliance as an indication that Berlin has decided that the “ blitzkrieg ” against Britain may not succeed, and therefore the alliance represents preparation for a long war. The details m the alliance regarding South America are vague, but it is believed that they are left mainly to Germany’s discretion as a means of further diverting the attention of the United States, presumably by the creation o r political disturbances A Tokio spokesman, commenting on Mr Cordell Hull’s condemnation

of the entry of Japanese troops into Indo-China, said that to blame Japan was as absurd as the alleged AngloAmerican joint defence agi'eement regarding Singapore. The newspaper Nichi Nicm charges the United States, Britain, and Australia with preparing ‘aggressive formations ” against Batavialand and other South-western Pacific countries for the purpose of interfering with Japan’s southward policy. It adds: “ Anglo-American economil pressure is powerless to restrain Japan, who will push her fixed policy with fresh energy." The Nich Nichi furthei points out that Australia since July has been refusing permits for wool exports, and that country may be regarded as having completely fallen in with (he Anglo-American front regarding the Far East;