THE PACIFIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24776, 28 November 1941, Page 5

THE PACIFIC

AMERICAN PEACE PLAN PRESENTED TO JAPAN TERMS NOT DISCLOSED (Rec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 26. The correspondent of the United Press states that the United States presented Mr Kurisu and Admiral Nomura with a plan dealing with the Far Eastern crisis. A State Department spokesman said the document is based on the principles previously enunciated by the Administration. No immediate explanation of the proposals is forthcoming, the United Press states, but it is assumed that it envisages " a breathing spell" to permit further time to discuss mutual problems. " We are strong for peace," Admiral Nomura told reporters as he arrived at the State Department, accompanied by Mr Kurusu, to continue the conversations with Mr Cordell Hull. Mr Kurusu denied that he had received special instructions from Tokio, and declinsd to comment en a report that he is preparing to return, reminding his questioners of the three Japanese monkeys who do not see. do not hear, and speak no evil. The Associated Press describes the document presented to Mr Kurusu as "a blueprint for peace in the Pacific, based on the doctrine of non-aggression which Mr Cordell Hull has preached for years." The Associated'Press says its reception is regarded as uncertain. Mr Kurusu and Admiral Nomura conferred with Mr Hull for 75 minutes and emerged s smiling, but silent. It is understood that the United States offered Japan a formula bassd on Mr Hull's 1937 declaration of principlesfirst, the maintenance of peace; secondly, abstinence from the use of force; thirdly, adjustment of international problems by peaceful negotiation and agreement. The United States Embassy in Tokio has renewed its advice to Americans to evacuate the Japanese Empire, occupied China, and Indo-China as soon as possible. The sailing of the Tatuta Maru to America has been postponed to accommodate Americans.

PROPOSED LIMITED ACCORD OPPOSED BY CHINA'S ENVOY (Rec. 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 26. The Washington correspondent of the Herald Tribune says Mr Cordell Hull continued his efforts to win the approval of the A.B.C.D. nations for a limited agreement. Differences of opinion among A.B.C.D. envoys regarding the proposed terms constituted an obstacle to difficult negotiations, China particularly opposing limited accord, which it fears will impair her position. At one stage, when it wa£ apparent that a general Pacific settlement was impossible, the Japanese threatened to return home, and to save a further rupture Mr Cordell Hull turned to the idea of a limited settlement. The Domei News Agency predicts that the next few days will reveal whether the Washington discussions will end in success or failure. Japan is not in a position to waste time conducting negotiations with the United States. AMERICAN PROPOSAL TEMPORARY AGREEMENT (Rec. H p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 26. Authoritative sources say that the United States favours a breathing space of three tronths in Japanese relations, reports the Washington correspondent of the United Press. A temporary agreement would provide for limited relaxation of the economic blockade against Japan, provided Japan is willing to pledge that there will be no further aggressive moves either southward or against Russia. Japan would also require to rearrange her troop dispositions so that they could not threaten the Burma road for the duration of the agreement. Last week the Japanese envoys asked for fuller restoration of trading facilities and offered fewer guarantees than the United States now asks.

The proposed temporary agreement is understood to include provision for carrying on the discussions aimed at a more permanent adjustment. Discussing rumours variously claiming that Mr Cordell Hull's document leads to high hopes of a settlement and that Chinese opposition to an American-Japanese agreement threatens to wreck the negotiations, a high diplomatic informant told the Associated Press that Mr Hull presented Mr Kurusu and Admiral Nomura with a statement of basic policy in the Pacific rather than a series of specific proposals. The informant added: "It is still too early to say that the talks will succeed or fail, regarding which all estimates must be regarded as merely guesses." The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says the document marks the completion of the first phase of the negotiations, leaving everything depending on the Japanese attitude. China's view differs from that of the other A.B.C.D. powers in so far as she does not want concessions to Japan. , ~, The Washington correspondent of the Herald-Tribune says Mr Hull's document has aroused the impression that he is attempting to carry out his original intention to seek a complete general Pacific settlement. AUSTRALIA'S AIM PRESERVATION OF PEACE (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, Nov. 27. In the course of a speech on the international situation, the Minister of External Affairs, Dr H. V. Evatt, in the House of Representatives declared that Australia aimed to preserve peace in the Pacific if it could be achieved without the sacrifice of principle, without prejudice to the national security, and without endangering the solidarity of the democratic Powers. He saw no reason why it should be impossible for Japan to withdraw her forces from Indo-China. rendering it possible to ease the present economic restrictions; but all this, he said, would be of no avail if aggression in one quarter were to be succeeded by aggression elsewhere. Britain could not look on with equanimity it Japanese forces attacked Russia or if the pressure against China were redoubled. , Dr Evatt revealed that in the democratic sphere the Commonwealth Government was considering, first, the despatch of a small delegation to Russia; secondly, is conferring full consular rank on its representative at Dilli, at Portuguese Timor; thirdly, has reached an agreement in principle with the Netherlands Government, which will give Australia adequate representation in the Netherlands East Indies and lead to tne appointment of a Dutch Minister in Canberra; and. fourthly, is considering the appointment of a consulgeneral in the Argentine. Referring to the talks between America and Japan, Dr Evatt said the Australian Government was content to allow the leadership and initiative in these discussions to be retained by the United States. He hoped the talks would result in an agreement, and that a new chapter would commence in the relationship between the leading Pacific Powers. Dr Evatt expressed surprise that, while the British Empire was an ally of Russia in the fight against Germany, it was still at peace with Germany's three eager satellites and accomplices in tne struggle against Russia—namely, Finland, Hungary, and Rumania. He expressed the opinion that strong and decisive action against these countries was the only commonsense method of.

preventing deterioration in diplomatic and political relations. Dr Evatt emphasised that the recent change in the Australian Government did not involve any vital change of war policy. He pointed out that the delegation for Russia would be deferred, due to Russia's intense concentration on her task of defeating the Germans. The Postmaster-general, Senator W. P. Ashley, announced that new postal rates which will come into force on December 10 will involve an increase of a halfpenny on all ordinary mail.