GOODS FROM THAILAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24716, 19 September 1941, Page 5

GOODS FROM THAILAND

PURCHASES BY JAPAN NAZI METHODS EMPLOYED NEW YORK, Sept. 17. The New York Times correspondent. in a message from Bangkok, says: Contrary to expectations, authoritative sources reveal that the first shipment of gold, 15,000,000 ticals, against which Thailand agreed to give Japan credit for 25,000.000 ticals, has left Japan, which is considered indicative that Thailand has taken a strong line in its economic dealings with Japan. Lately the Japanese made wholesale purchases of Thailand minerals, rice, and rubber, taking nearly all the Thai output of rubber, wolfram, and a-quar-ter of the tin production, whereas a year ago Singapore took virtually the total production of these items. The Japanese are paying Thailand 30 to 100 per cent, over the world market prices, apparently for political rather than business reasons. The Japanese, who apparently have inexhaustible finances, are at present active in southern Thailand, attempting to buy tin mines, while Bangkok real estate has been acquired at sellers’ prices. Foreign observers believe that the Japanese aim to dislocate Thai economy and strike at Thai morale with methods borrowed from Germany’s book.