STANDING FIRM

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21532, 22 September 1941, Page 6

STANDING FIRM

SUCCESS OF CHINESE JAPAN’S FORCES HELD WANTS TO END WAR LONDON, Sept 21 “China has brought the mighty Japanese war machine to a standstill,” said Dr. Wellington Koo. Chinese Ambassador to Britain, in a broadcast last night. He said that after months of sacrifice and hardships the Chinese were still standing firm. China required more help from the outside world to

gain the equipment required to push the invaders back into the sea. When this was done China would have an army that could be sent anywhere else to help defend the right to live freely. “It is significant that it is Japan that is now trying to end the war she so wantonly forced on us,” he said. FAR EAST CRISIS WAR MAY FLARE UP WARNING IN THAILAND (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) BANGKOK, Sept.’2l The Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Luang Bipul Songgram, in a broadcast said: “War involving Thailand may flare up at any moment. The situation has become tense. “All Thai must be strictly neutral. If you take sides you risk war, and the Government then cannot guarantee the country’s safety.” The Thailand People’s Assembly rejected by 32 votes to 24 a private members’ bill seeking to ban the entry of foreigners of any nationality into Thailand. The Government expressed its sympathy, but declined to adopt the proposal. The Minister of the Interior said Thailand had adequate means of sup- ; pressing the fifth column, but he admitted the possibility of danger in the foreign element. Members drew attention to the fact that Japanese agents recently had been buying motor vehicles in Thailand at unusual prices, whereupon the Assembly approved a Government bill to control the transfer of motor vehicle titles. Japan and Axis The Tokio newspaper Miyako describes as incomprehensible a disposition among certain official circles in Japan to restrain the public in celebrating the first anniversary of the signing - of the Axis Pact. It says it is learned that the Government intends to limit the observance to a formal ceremony at the Imperial Hotel and to prohibit private programmes. The Kokumin says it must be extremely regretted that some Japanese of an extreme sanguine disposition have come to entertain an optimistic view of China, simply on the strength of Prince Konoye’s message to President Roosevelt. It issues a warning against being deluded by a temporary favourable turn, and adds: “The war has only started.” The Ministry of Agrictulture in Tokio has announced that, in order to spread inadequate supplies evenly, the Government will control the distribution of meat, as from October 20. All available poultry, beef, pork and mutton may be purchased after that date solely by the Japan Meat Control Company, which will resell quotas to the wholesalers’ guilds. Fifty Russians, including Madame Smetanin, wife of the Soviet Ambassador to Japan, have sailed from Tsuruga for Vladivostok. France and Japan A correspondent of the United Press says that M. Henri Haye, Vichy Ambassador to Washington, has asked the United States to seek, during current conversations with Japan, the withdrawal of Japanese forces from French Indo-China.