HITLER'S HOPE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24416, 30 September 1940, Page 5

HITLER'S HOPE

SPREAD OF THE WAR UNABLE TO WIN ALONE PROMISE OF SPOILS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 27. According to messages from Berlin, Herr von Ribbentrop said: "The pact aims at the reconstruction of peace throughout the world, and any country joining the alliance will have a voice in the redistribution of territory after the war." Count Ciano and Mr Kurusu made short speeches welcoming the alliance, which is semi-officially interpreted in Berlin to mean that the Axis Powers and Japan have agreed to call a halt to all plans to extend or prolong the war. " Thus the three Powers have contributed to world peace and the great cause of establishing a just and permanent peaceful order." It is authoritatively stated in Rome that the alliance is intended to forestall the entry of the United States into the war. It is authoritatively stated in Shanghai that the pact is a four-way defensive alliance (apparently including Spain) with economic sidelights, and will be effective in the event of American participation in the European war or an AngloAmerican front in the Orient. It envisages a Spanish political offensive in South America in co-opera-tion with German Fifth Columnists in an effort to divert the United States from the Orient. Shanghai authorities regard the alliance as an Axis victory in the sense that Japan's fleet can now be employed to immobilise the United States Navy in the Pacific, and possibly even in-volve-the United States in a Pacific war, thus impeding American activities and aid for Britain. Reaction in Washington The first reaction in Washington is to intensify tlv. national defences, especially as regards a two-ocean navy, and to strengthen outlying defences in the Pacific and the Atlantic. The Japanese Foreign Office announced that the Emperor had granted a rescript permitting the signature of the r.lliance in order that " peace might be restored as soon as possible." . r»«r„ a The Japanese Foreign Office Spokesman said: "We are not changing our policy towards the United States, and we are not abandoning hope of readjusting relations with that countrv." _ . . Most observers in Washington doubt that the pact wil] influence Britain or the United States, and also doubt that it will have any immediate physical results, since the three Powers are fully occupied already. Because of the limited achievements which the pact could produce immediately, some believe it was designed partly to bolster up the morale of the three countries where the quick victories anticipated have not materialised. In the meanwhile many observers have expressed the opinion that the ultimate, and most important, result might be the encirclement of Russia, leading the Soviet seriously and promptly to consider a closer association with Britain and the United States. Mr Cordell Hull said the new Axis alliance " makes clear for all a relationship which has long existed in effect. The United States has known for some time that the alliance was being negotiated, and that fact has been fully taken into account by the United States in determination of its policies. The reported agreement does not substantially alter a situation that has existed for several years." Mussolini, telegraphing Prince Konoye, said: " The Italians welcome the pact associating the energies of our countries in the great task of European and Asiatic reconstruction. Italy has long followed with unchanged sympathy the developments in Japanese policy. Such high aims logically culminate in to-day's events. King Victor Emmanuel and Count CianO sent similar messages to the Mikado and Mr Matsuoka. World Conflict Probable The Daily Mail says Hitler has promised to share the spoils because he is not sure he is able alone to break the British Empire. Hitler is trying to spread the war, and before another year the greater part of the world may be aflame. The reaction of the average man in the street in Shanghai on hearing the terms of the pact was that it was not as bad as was expected. The people there expected something more far-reaching, and, now that it is revealed that the pact is a defensive, rather than offensive, alliance, there is a general feeling of relief.

Reports circulating in Tokio, however, say the pact contains secret clauses, presumably describing the conditions under which one or all of the signatories would wage war against another Power, such as the United States.