“INHUMAN ATTEMPT TO DISTURB FOODSTUFFS POLICY”

Southland Times, Issue 24438, 19 May 1941, Page 7

“INHUMAN ATTEMPT TO DISTURB FOODSTUFFS POLICY”

(United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) TOKYO, May 18. The Nichi Nichi Shimbun charged the British Government with an “inhuman attempt” to disturb Japan’s foodstuffs policy by ordering the natives of the west Pacific islands not to sell copra which the Japanese have contracted to purchase at 100 yen a ton for manufacturing and relieving the cooking oil shortage. The Yomiuri Shimbun asserts that the Java trade parleys are at the crossroads because the Dutch are showing little sincerity because of their belief in an ultimate British victory. The Yomiuri Shimbun says Japan expects only economic co-operation, for which reason Java should follow the example of Thailand and Indo-China and recognize Japan as leader in the “East Asia Co-Pros-perity Sphere.” The Foreign Minister, Mr Yosuke Matsuoka, and the Minister for War, Lieutenant-General Hideki Tojo, attended a luncheon in honour of the German, Italian and Russian Ambassadors today. The Prime Minister, Prince Fumimaro Konoye, toasting the Tripartite Alliance, said German, Italian and Russian goodwill had made Mr Matsuoka’s European tour successful. Commenting on developments in Syria, the Yomiuri Shimbun declares the Near East must not be trampled or oppressed as a mere stage in the battle between the European Powers for supremacy. Japan must watch the Near East developments with the greatest care because of the overwhelming predominance of Japanese trade in the Near East. European countries tend to believe that the Near East is a part of Europe, hut it belongs to the Asiatics.