ITEMS OF INTEREST

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21601, 11 December 1941, Page 6

ITEMS OF INTEREST

French Neutrality. —A Franco-Jap-anese agreement was reached at Hanoi, confirming French neutrality in the Pacific. Corvette Sunk. —The Canadian corvette Windflower was sunk in a collision. Tw r enty-three officers and men are presumed to be lost.

Solidarity with America.—Paraguay has declared its solids/ity with the United States against Japan.

Exchange of Nationals. —The United States, through a neutral European country, has proposed the exchange of Natibnals with Japan, says a Tokio radio announcement. Japanese Firms Black-listed. —The State Department at Washington reported that 470 Japanese firms in the South American Republics have been black-listed.

Japanese Minister’s Regret. —The Japanese Minister to Australia, Mr 1 atsuo Kawai. paid a formal and final call on Dr. H. V. Evatt, Australian Minister of External Affairs. Dr. Evatt handed him a copy of the proclamation of war. Mr Kawai expressed deep regret that the relations had come to such a pass. This was the last time Mr Kawai and Dr. Evatt were to meet in their respective capacities.

Australian Premiers to Confer. —A conference of the State Premiers has been called by the Commonwealth Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, for next Friday week. The meeting will be held at Canberra.

Mr Churchill's Nephew Missing.—

The Royal Canadian Air Force has reported that Pilot-Officer Esmond Romilly, a nephew of Mr Winston Churchill, is missing after an overseas air operation. Pilot-Officer Romilly's wife, who was formerly Miss Jessie F'reeman-Mitford, a sister of Miss Unity Mitford, was preparing to leave for England with her infant.