PACIFIC CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24772, 24 November 1941, Page 5

PACIFIC CRISIS

DEMOCRACIES CONFER SOLIDARITY DEMONSTRATED NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE WASHINGTON. (Rec. 10.30. p.m.) V Nov. 22. Representatives of the A B C D Powers conferred for nearly three hours in what is interpreted as a demonstration of solidarity in the Far East. Mr Cordell Hull saw Mr Kurusu and Admiral Nomura informally tonight, the conversations lasting till nearly midnight. They will be . resumed this week. It is confirmed that Mr Hull kept representatives of the A B C D Powers fully informed of the Japanese talks. Asked after the conference whether he was hopeful of a solution of the Pacific problems. Lord Halifax smiled and said: " I am always optimistic. I would not undertake to under-estimate the developments or over-estimate them. I believe it best to treat exploratory talks as exploratory and keep temperatures down." Mr Hushih appeared cheerful and said the A B C D Powe-s were in agreement—apparently referring to speculation that a settlement might . oblige China to make concessions.

Lord Halifax is also reported to have stated at the close of the conference that the representatives of the four countries were in complete agreement with Mr Hull's position in his discussions with the Japanese envoys, now in Washington. The State Department spokesman said the discussions had concerned all phases of the international situation in which any of the countries represented were interested, but there had been no occasion to reach any conclusions this time. Hope of Some Success

The New York Times Washington correspondent says the prospect that conversation between America and Japan might meet with a modjcum of success has loomed for the first time. A report from Tokio by the correspondent of the paper, Mr O. D. Tolischus. says the vice-president of the Imperial Rule Association, General Kisaburo Ando, in a speech, said Japan must prepare herself to meet the situation in such a manner as to gain a victory without waging war. The main obstacle to negotiations between the United States and Japan is Japanese adherence to the Axis, which Mr Cordell Hull demanded Japan should renounce as one of the basic conditions, says the Washington correspondent of the Herald-Tribune. Thus far the Japanese had shown no disposition to sever the Axis link. Mr Tolischus says the general impression is that only a miracle can lead the negotiations to success. Nevertheless, even if they break down, no immediate move is expected on either side at least until further development in the European war. The Hochi Shimbun, however, says: "For five years we have waged a big war on the continent and now, whether we like it or not, it will be training for a great war in the future." The press gives a bad note to the Diet session, and some papers call on the Government to hold a new general election to reflect on the true will of the people. The Nichi Nichi Shimbun says the gravity of the situation does not empower the Prime Minister to evade it. Simultaneously there is emerging a drive for reconstruction in political parties in place of the Imperial rule. The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press says an Imperial ordinance has mobilised boys and girls from 14 years, as well as young men and women, for national labour service. Japan Determined Concluding a special session of the Diet in Tokio, the Prime Minister, General Tojo, said Japan was determined to push on with her national policy. Backed up by the unshakable determination of the people, as witnessed in this special session of the Diet, the Government was planning to redouble its efforts to cope with the unprecedented national crisis. The Shanghai correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says the British Em-j bassy announced that the -Anhwei would shortly call at Hongkong and embark 600 British subjects. More than 1000 British have intimated their desire to leave Shanghai. According to an announcement in Batavia by Lieutenant-general Bakker, head of the Netherlands East Indies State Mobilisation Council, the number of civil conscripts will soon reach the half million mark. General Bakker said there was a most satisfactory state of preparedness on that part of the civil front which had the task of carrying out the scorched earth policy, and the enemy would not have the slightest chance to upset the destruction, plans, which had been specially worked out in regard to oilfields and oil supplies. The Kokumin Shimbun said that Japan might be forced to denounce the Russo-Japanese Neutrality Pact and take firm measures in the event of Russia continuing quibbling and procrastinating tactics regarding the Japanese protest over the sinking of the Kehi Maru.