HOPE ABANDONED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24604, 12 May 1941, Page 5

HOPE ABANDONED

♦♦♦ THE CONQUEST OF CHINA JAPANESE WAR-WEARINESS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Rec. 9p.m.) TOKIO, May 10. The Japan Times and Advertiser, discussing the China policy editorially, abandons hope of overcoming China through force, and advocates reducing the scale of hostilities in order to promote peaceful conditions and improved trade. Colonel Akiyama, the Japanese-military spokesman, referring to the editorial, said: "The Japanese army cannot catch the Chinese. This continental arena is too large, but if the Chinese assume the offensive we are confident we will be able to trap and annihilate them." The Japanese Ambassador in China (Mr Honda) is returning to Japan with a plan based on an agreement between the army, the navy, and the Foreign Service for peace in China, says the Shanghai correspondent of the Nichi Nichi. Mr Honda, in an interview, said he had been informed that Chungking wants the wholesale withdrawal of Japanese troops as a prerequisite to the opening of negotiations. Peace is only possible, however, through the strengthening of the Nanking regime, which Japan intends to do. Urging the immediate positive realisation of the Japanese southward advance policy, the noted commentator, Mr Tokutomi, in an article in the Nichi Nichi declares that an Amencan and Japanese collision is a foregone conclusion. He adds that it would be the Height of misfortune for Japan to ignore this danger He asserts that Washington is already so near to China that the Washington and Chungking Governments may be considered a single entity and that as far as Japan is concerned it would be nearer the truth to say that Chiang Kai-shek is fighting for America rather than to say that America was aiding Chungking.