DUTCH EAST INDIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 118, 17 April 1940, Page 7

DUTCH EAST INDIES.

POSITION OF JAPAN. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 17. The acting-Consul-General tor Japan (Mr N. Nakaluji) has received a cable j from the Japanese Foreign Minister alter being questioned by newspapermen concerning Japan’s position regarding the possible involvement of the Netherlands in the European War and its repercussions in the Netherlands East Indies. The Foreign Minister (Air j Arita) says: “With the South Searegions, especially the Netherlands Fast Indies, Japan is economically bound by intimate relationship of mutuality in ministering to one another’s need. Similarly the countries of East Asia maintain close economic relations with these regions; that is to say, Japan, these countries, and these regions together are contributing to the prosperity of East Asia through mutual aid and interdependence. Should hostilities in Europe be extended to the Netherlands and produce repercussions as. you say, in the Netherlands East Indies, it would not only interfere with the maintenance anil furtherance of the above-mentioned relations of economic interdependence and of co existence and co-prosperity, but also give rise to an undesirable situation from the 1 standpoint of the ponce and stability of Fast Asia. In view of these considerations the Japanese Government cannot but be deeply concerned over any development aceoinonliving the aggravation of the war in Europe that mn.v affect tile status quo of the Netherlands East Indies.” INTEREST IN AUSTRALIA. Received April 17, 12.40 p.m. Canberra, April n. The effect that an invasion of Holland plight have on the situation in the Pacific was discussed by the Federal Cabinet in its relation to Australia’s war programme. The Premier (Mr R. G. Alenzies’l said Cabinet touched on the question of the East Indies and was watching events closely. The executive of the Federal Parliamentary Labour Party discussed the same subject, and it is understood virtually agreed to submit ‘o the party a proposal that, in the event of a Gelman invasion of Holland, Australia should, if necessary, give active military help to the Dutch East Indies.