RESULTS DOUBTED

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 317, 30 September 1940, Page 4

RESULTS DOUBTED

NEW AXIS PACT OPINION IN AMERICA BOLSTERING UP MORALE TOKIO PRESS THREATS “FIGHT FOR JAPAN” (News by Cable.) LONDON, Sept. 27. ■ The Japanese Foreign Office announced that Emperor Hirohito has granted a rescript permitting the signature of an alliance with Germany and Italy in order that “peace might be restored as soon as possible.” The Foreign Office, spokesman said : “We are nbt changing our policy towards the United States and we are not abanadoning hope of readjusting our relations with the United States.”

A defiant threat is launched b.Y the extremist newspaper Kokumin Shimbun to-day in an outburst against Britain and America occasioned by America’s loan to China and the embargo on scrap metal for Japan-. The paper said that if the British and Americans continue their unprovoked anti-Japanese stand, they will get a telling blow. Under the heading, “l'irst for Supremacy in the Pacific,” the newspaper Miyako Shimbun says that Indo-China is only a minor angle of the major struggle now developing between America and Japan in which Britain apparently .is participating. The comparatively conservative Asahi Shimbun declares 1 : “It now seems inevitable that a clash wi occur between Japan and the United States. Wo rather welcome the United States’ decision to act in a decisive manner instead of persecuting Japan by slow means.” Encirclement of Russia Most observers in Washington doubt whether the pact will influence Britain or the United States, and also doubt whether the pad

will have any immediate physical results since the three Powers are fully occupied already. Because of the limited achievements which the pact could produce immediately, some believe that it was designed partly to bolster up the morale of the three countries, where the quick victories anticipated have not materialised. Meanwhile, many observers have expressed the opinion that the ulti--.nate and most important result might be the encirclement of Russia, leading the Soviet seriously and promptly to consider closer association with Britain and the United States. Signor Mussolini, telegraphing the Japanese Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, said: “Italians welcome the pact associating the energies of our countries in the great task of European and Asiatic reconstruction. Italy has long followed with unchanged sympathy the developments of Japanese policy. Such high aims logically culminate in to-day’s events.” King Victor Emmanuel and Count C'iano have sent similar messages to the Mikado and Mr. Matsuoka. Relations Clarified The United States Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull said that the new “Axis Alliance” makes clear for all. the relationship which has long existed in effect. The United States has known for some time that the alliance was be.ng negotiated and that fact was fully taken into account by the United States in the determination of its policies-. The reported agreement does not substantially alter a situation which has existed for several years.

Mr. Paul Patterson, publisher of the Baltimore Sun, has arrived at Honolulu after a tour of the Far East and the Antipodes. He said he found the Dutch East Indies fully prepared to meet any Japanese threat. lie believed that the Dutch air force was more than a match for the Japanese. Ho added that the Dutch were building a. great defence system throughout the islands. The United States should utilise Britain’s Paci-

fic bases, particularly Singapore. Other members of the party revealed that the seas around the East Indies were heavily mined and that vast military preparatians were proceeding.