THE NEXT MOVE

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

THE NEXT MOVE

PACT WITH RUSSIA OVERTURES FROM TOKIO BACKED LP BY BERLIN LONDON, Sept. 28. (Received Sept. 29, at 10 p.m.) According to messages from Tokio it is authoritatively stated that the Japanese are anxious for a rapprochement with Russia similar to the Russian-German Pact, and that they are making overtures directly and also through Germany. It depends, however, on Moscow's attitude, which at present cannot be determined in Tokio.

Mr Yosuke Matsuoka. Foreign Minister, and Mr K. Suma, spokesman for the Foreign Office, both said : that the alliance did not mean Japan's early entrance into the European war. "Japan won't challenge any country,'' Mr Matsuoka said. "Although we will adhere to peaceful means as much as possible, there might arise circumstances in which we must make important decisions."

"We are not going to participate in the European war at this moment," Mr Suma said. "This is a pact to end wars, not to start them." The Japanese Army's paper, Tairiku Shimpu, said that the alliance was a factual reply to America's loan to Chungking and the scrap. embargo. " Should any one of the three signatories be challenged," it says, " the challenger will be dealt with by force." It adds that if the United States further aids China it will be considered a challenge and the alliance become effective.

The Prime Minister (Prince Konoye) summoned the former Premiers, Wakatsuki, Okada, Hirota, Hayashi and Tonai, to a conference, and is reported to have explained the tripartite pact negotiations, after which he asked for their suppon, inasmuch as Japan must now watch seriously the development of the international situation.