REPORTED ALLIANCE

Evening Star, Issue 23691, 26 September 1940, Page 9

REPORTED ALLIANCE

GERMANY AND JAPAN PRCVISIONAL DEFENSIVE PACT COUNTER-MOVE TO ■ ANGLO-AMERICAN FRONT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SHANGHAI, September 25. Authoritative reports from Tokio reaching Shanghai say that Japan and Germany have agreed in principle on a defensive alliance, to become effective in the event of British and American collaboration, such as in regard to the Singapore Base, in which case Japan would abandon her non-involvement policy. It is further stated that Hitler’s personal representative, Herr Stahiner, has negotiated a provisional Japan-German defensive pact, which envisages a worldwide diversion of American attention, especially to South America and the Far East. Authoritative sources in Tokio declare that the Japanese Imperial Conference on September 19 approved of an alliance with Germany in principle. The anouncement, however, will be delayed, pending the Privy Council’s formal ratification. It is understood that the pact does net envisage immediate Japanese abandonment of her non-involvement policy, but sets a policy to meet the AngloAmerican front. It is' further stated that the alliance includes German assurances of good offices toward Russia, amounting to a Russo-Japanese nonaggression pact, thereby freeing Japan’* move southward. ALLIANCE UNCONFIRMED OFFICIAL LONDON STATEMENT LONDON, September 23. (Received September 26, at 11.30 a.m.)’* It is officially stated that the German-Japanese defensive alliance is unconfirmed. > GERMANY’S PROPOSITION DESIGNED TO AVERT AMERICAN HELP FOR BRITAIN HITLER NOW PREPARING FOR LONG WAR LONDON, September 25. It is understood that the alliance is Germany’s proposition, . and is designed to avert full United States support for Britain. Observers interpret the ajiiance as an indication that Berlin has decided that the “ blitzkrieg ” against Britain may not succeed, and therefore the alliance represents preparation for a. long war. The details in the alliance regarding South America are vague, but it is believed that they are left mainly to Germany’s discretion as a means of further diverting the attention of the United States, presumably by the creation of political disturbances. A Tokio spokesman, commenting on Mr Cordell Hull’s condemnation of the entry of Japanese troops into IfldoChina, said that to blame Japan was as absurd as the alleged Anglo-Ameri-can joint defence agreement regarding Singapore. The newspaper ' Nichi Nichi Shimbun ’ charges the United States, Britain, and Australia with preparing “ aggressive formations ” against Batavia and other South-western Pacific countries for the purpose of interfering with Japan’s southward policy. It adds: “Anglo-American economic pressure is powerless to restrain Japan, who will push her fixed policy with fresh energy.” The ‘ Nichi Nichi ’ further points out that Australia, since July, has been refusing permits for wool exports, and that country may be regarded as having completely fallen in with the AngloAmerican front regarding the Far East. AMERICAN COMMENT NEWS RECEIVED WITH RESERVE REGARDED AS “ TRIAL BALLOON " WASHINGTON, September 25. (Received September 26, at 12.5 p.m.)’ Officials received with reserve the reports of a Japanese-German defence alliance. They do not doubt that diplomatic collaboration exists, but regard the Shanghai reports as a trial balloon to test the opinion of the remainder of the world, particularly the United States. Such a pact, it was said, would throw Japan openly into war with Britain, and certainly aggravate the strained relations with the United States.