Both Sides Reticent

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22125, 20 November 1941, Page 5

Both Sides Reticent

Important Talks at Washington

Japan’s Axis Adherence May Be Bar

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received 1 a.m.) LONDON, November 19. DISCUSSIONS at Washington between the Japanese envoy and American leaders will be resumed to-day. So far both sides have been guarded about the progress of the talks.

In the meantime there have been further outbursts similar to the tone of the Diet discussions yesterday. A Japanese Army spokesman said that America had been the backbone in the moves by the American, British, Chinese and Dutch powers. She had been supplying all the initiative.

Senator Pepper, a member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, said in Washington that the time had come to draw a line. If war was the price of stopping a Japanese rampage then war would have to come.

Replying to Mr Shlmada’s speech in the Diet the Prime Minister (General Tojo), said that the Government had completed all necessary preparations, anticipated all possible obstacles, and left nothing to be desired In the way of the execution of Japan's fixed national policy. “The Government is firmly determined to defend its national existence, but all responsibility rests with you 100,000,000 people, for which reason I am reassured to know that the people are fully prepared to meet the situation. I am confident that Japan will surmount any difficulties facing her with the firmest determination.” The Foreign Minister (Mr Togo), said that Mr Kurusu carried no new instructions to Washington, but intimated that the mission’s outcome would determine Japan’s interpretation of the Axis alliance obligations. The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press of America, states that General Tojo declared to-day that the Japanese army was prepared for any eventuality, and Admiral Shimada announced that the navy had completed all necessary preparations. British and American naval units are assembling in the Pacific, states the “Telegraph.” This naval movement coincides with heavy Japanese troop movements in Indo-China. The strength of the Japanese garrisons in lindo-China is believed to have jumped from 50,000 five weeks ago to 150,000. Japanese land and air forces, massed in the north of Indo-China, are reported to be moving south and west towards Thailand. The Shanghai correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain states that the Japanese are rushing construction work in Camranh Bay. Possible U.S. Terms The United States may offer Japan the status of an ally, instead of a foe, as a basis of settlement, states the Washington correspondent of the United Press of America. The United States would dismiss, as not a subject for negotiation, the demand of the Japanese Prime Minister (General Tojo) for the relaxation of the blockade, unless Japan was willing to withdraw from the Axis, and redirect her national effort to help the democracies against Hitler. Under the latter condition the United States might use its good offices to secure a settlement witli Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, under which Japan would receive economic rights in China and equality with the Western Powers, in full consideration of China’s sovereign rights. Alternatively, the United States would intensify its aid to China, and regard any Japanese threat to the southward as a threat to the United States’ sources of essential raw materials, and thus a direct attack on the United States. "After a substantial discount has been made for the fact that General Tojo spoke for home consumption, to a

war-weary and disillusioned people, it is impossible to escape the conclusion that the Japanese, terms are nonsense,” stated the “New York Times.” "No Japanese Premier can possibly expect the United States to reverse Its traditional policy of the past, and make its policy for the future at the behest of Nippon.” Desire to Avoid War The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” states that diplomatic circles are of the opinion that unless Japan’s view that third parties must keep their hands from China could be reconciled with the United States’ insistence upon the maintenance of the territorial Integrity of China, the present conferences might prove futile. He added that the United States’ position regarding Japan was: Firstly, a desire to avodi war with Japan; secondly, a determination to permit no further Japanese aggression; and thirdly, insistence upon China’s position as a sovereign State. The Japanese envoys appeared far from happy as they hurried from the White House after their conference with President Roosevelt, and ordered the car to be started with such speed that the door was not closed. The Japanese special envoy (Mr Kurusu), and the Japanese Ambassador to Washington (Admiral Nomura) to-day spent two hours and threequarters vgth the Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull). This was one of the longest conferences with the State Department on record. Admiral Nomura said afterwards that he was still hopeful of reaching an agreement. Mr Cordell Hull said that he could not give any answer to a question as to how the negotiations were proceeding without a danger of giving misleading Information. The talks were still in the exploratory stage, and had not yet reached the point where definite progress could be discussed. Consultation with Tokio It is assumed in Washington that the results of the meeting have been cabled to Tokio, the Japanese representatives desiring to get their Government's views before continuing. Before going into the conference, Admiral Nomura asked newspaper men why the United States newspapers were always talking of fighting. “You are always in a war mood,” he said. He laughed when one of the reporters retorted that the Tokio newspapers did not sound exactly peaceminded. The Japanese spokesman in Tokio (Mr Ko Ishii) said that there was no chance of a settlement unless the United States refrained from aiding China. That was the opinion of the majority of the Japanese people, and the Government must take into consideration the feelings of the majority.