THE FAR EAST

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14473, 28 June 1940, Page 5

THE FAR EAST

TREND IN JAPANESE POLICY EXTREMIST ACTIVITY REPORTED POSITION OF COLONIES AND DOMINIONS. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. NEW YORK, June 26. The Shanghai correspondent of the “New York Times” says that the early fall of Admiral Yonai’s Cabinet in Tokio is expected, after which extremists are likely to succeed Signs of the trend in Japanese policy are seen in a statement today by the Minister of War. General Hata, that any third Power, “who fails to understand Japan’s contentions and who instead thwarts the execution of Japan’s national policies must be treated drastically.” Japan is playing an opportunist game and is placing pressure on Britain and France. The pressure against Britain is expected to increase if Hitler’s blitzkrieg promises success.

A question that is at the moment causing disquiet among Americans in the Far East is whether Japan will keep her hands off Australia and New Zealand in ca-se Britain is defeated and whether the United States would permit a Japanese intrusion into those lands, the correspondent says. The thinly-disguised Japanese intention of eventually occupying French In do-China is greatly increasing the apprehensions, and a westward movement of the United States fleet is seen as the only possible deterrent. The present Japanese pressure to cut off the war supplies proceeding toward Chungking puts a new face on the desperation of Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s cause, and is resulting in increased desertions from the Chungking Government. Several generals from the Hupeh fronts have arrived in Nanking and are bargaining with the pro-Japanese leader Wang Ching-wei. and six Chinese pilots have landed at Icliang, inside the Japanese lines, seeking to join the Nanking administration. ADVANCE IN SOUTH CHINA.

The Nanning correspondent of the Domei (Japanese') News Agency says that the Japanese forces approaching the border of Indo-China continued their advance toward Ning-Mmg. 20 miles south-east of Lungchow, which other Japanese units are approaching in spite of .stiff .Chinese resistance. Japanese forces are also progressing toward Ming-King. Military circles expected the occupation of Ning-Ming and Ming-King to-day, resulting in the Japanese controlling key points on the highway from Nanning to Pingsiang. A message from Hong Kong says it is authoritatively stated that no additional Japanese warships so far have appeared in South China waters and there are no indications of a blockade of Haiphong, sea port of French Indo-China. This is in reply to a report by the Hong Kong newspaper ‘‘China Mail” that Japanese warships had arrived off Haiphong and established a blockading screen, presumably to search ships using the port. Chinese had also reported that Japanese forces occupied Mirs Bay. thus encircling Hong Kong. The Hong Kong correspondent* of the American Associated Press stated that the British had dynamited bridges spanning the Shumchun River • urely lor precautionary defensive purposes.” JAPANESE WARSHIPS FOR INDO-CHINA. TOKIO, June 27. Rear-Admiral Kanazawa declined to disclose the strength of the Japanese warships sent to French IndoChina. He said that Japanese planes had just discovered a large quantity of war supplies en route from Indo-China. The newspaper ‘‘Asahi Shimbun” said that the Foreign Office willissue a statement on Friday or Saturday declaring “East Asiatic autonomy,” which would not tolerate interference by third Powers in the East Asiatic situation.