NO SIGN OF TENSION IN FAR EAST EASING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 284, 2 December 1941, Page 5

NO SIGN OF TENSION IN FAR EAST EASING

PRECAUTIONS IN PACIFIC IMPORTANT MEETINGS CALLED IN WASHINGTON, CANBERRA, TOKIO (By Teicgraj h—Press Ct-* > ght » (Rtc<L JI p.m. Lundun, Die. 1. riit ii lias l>< ■ n no easing of tension in the Far Eastern situation in the past 24 hours. Important meetings are being held in the eapitals of the three countries vitally interested—United States. Australia and Japan. Tile I‘resuknt of tin United States. -Mr. F. 11. |{..ns. v. |t, aft. r a further long telephone conversation from Wanu Springs with the United States Secretary of State. Mr. < ordeil Hull, is now hurrying back ot Washington, having ent short his holiday. Mr. Hull is to again sei the Japanese envoys, Mr. S. Kurusii and Admiral K. Nomura, to-day. From t'anbirra it is reported that the Australian Cabinet has been summoned at such short notice that some members have bad to make the journey by special plane. In Tokio, the Prime Minister of Japan. General E. Tojo, told his Government to-day ot the details of the Ameri' an-Japailese negotiations.

Meanwhile precautionary measures are being taken at various key points in the Pacific: Hongkong; All servicemen have been ordered to return to barracks and naval men have received standby orders. Burma: Alt servicemen are standing by and theie are details of the arrival of one of the largest contingents of British and Indian troops. . Philippines; Leave has been curtailed and a black-out ordered at the main naval bases. A report from a Philippines source states that units of the Japanese fleet, with aircraft-car-riers, ha* been seen near the southern mandated Japanese Islands, just north of British Borneo. The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain said authoritative quarters stated that Japan desires to continue the Washington discussions, at least for a fortnight. That she is not prepared, however. to abandon her southward expansion is revealed by General Kisahuro Ando. Addressing a rally celebrating the annivereary of Japan's formal recognition of the Nanking regime, he predicted that Japan will try to cut the Burma Road and move into the Netherland East Indies. General Ando said that ivs Holland was completely occupied by the German*, the Netherlands East Indies will he “summarily treated" as soon as Japan decides to move in that area. Reaction to Premier Tojo's Speech The speech made by th.- Prime Minister of Japan tGen.ra! Tojo*. on the anniversary of the Japan-Manchuku* det lai ation of a new order in East Asia, in which he asserted that AngoAmerican exploitation of the Asiatic peoples must la* "purged with a vengeance." has made the worst possible impression in Washington, and it would not take many more such speeches to harden American public opinion to a point where it would welcome war with Japan. The speech is considered almost as menacing as an actual step of aggression. Mr. Roosevelt, in a speech at Warm Springs, said: "By this time next year American soldiers and sailors now in training may actually he fighting for the defence of American institutions."

Foreign military observers in Shanghai said that Japanese Army officers were predicting J a panes) moves in Thailand by December 1 if Mr. Kurusu failed. However, it is believed that the Japanese are not yet ready to move.

The United Stales Consulate at Shanghai circularised Americans tor the third time, reiterating tne pre-

-vious evacuation advice, because of shipping shortage.—U.P.A. The Burma Road. A me.Nsiige from Manila stales that it is authoritatively disclosed that th? Burma Road soon will he defended .from Japanese air attack by an allAmerican unit, composed ol American planes flown by American pilots. All the personnel are listed officially as membeis of the Chinese Air Force, though the majority are former regular members of the United States Army and Navy.