JAPAN’S MISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24420, 4 October 1940, Page 7

JAPAN’S MISSION

GREATER EAST ASIA RELATIONS WITH SOVIET NEGOTIATIONS IN MOSCOW (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph--Copyright) TOKIO, Oct. 2. Mr Suma made no comments on press reports that Germany and Italy are encouraging a Soviet nonaggression pact with Japan He said, however, that it the Soviet would take the initiative Japan would consider opening negotiations He said Mr Tatekawa. a plenipotentiary, was going ’o Moscow and was authorised to conduct all negotiations. The Yomiun urges the Government to improve relations with the Soviet in view of a prospective American diplomatic advance to the Soviet. The Asahi and the Hochi advise (he Soviet to abandon its policy of assistance to : Marsha) Chiang Kai-shek in order to remove an obstacle to a rapprochment with Japan. Mr Tatekawa is reported to be leaving for Moscow on October 11

The Burma Route The Yomiuri stated; ‘lt Britain refuses to continue the closure of the Burma route Japan will not request it, but will res- rt to its own measures for the removal of all obstacles to Japan’s mission.” It added that a British refusal was indicated from the recent Anglo-American activities, particularly America’s reaction to the tripartite pact. The Asahi said world concern was focused on what counter-measures Britain and the United States would lake to cope with the situation arising from the tripartite pact. Britain was reported to have started negotiations with the dominions for the prohibition of munition material exports to Japan. However, only tin. rubber and iron ores from Malay, and copper from Canada were affected, for which reason Japan would not foel the pinch. Britain apparently knows that a serious situation would arise if such an embargo were extended to the Malay Peninsula Therefore, it is unlikely that Britain will take such a step lightly or recklessly.”

“AH or Nothing Struggle ”

The newspaper Asahi predicted that if the British and Americans ban oil, rubber and tin exports, Japan will chose “an all or nothing struggle ” rather than a waiting death.

The Asahi’s Batavia correspondent says the tripartite pact has greatly influenced trade negotiations between Japan and the Netherlands East Indies. It is expected to be known whether an agreement can be concluded within a fortnight. It showed that Japan was “unmistakably resolved ” to do everything to construct a Greater East Asia. The Yomiuri’s Hongkong correspondent, says Chinese troops are likely to invade Indo-China by the week-end.

At Tientsin the Japanese military authorities announced new restrictions on the exportation of furs, which American buyers say amounts to an embargo, adding that the Japanese authorities offered the Americans prices for existing stocks far below market values.

SIGNING OF THE PACT JAPAN’S ACT OF FOLLY THE ROAD TO DISASTER A CALCULATED POLICY LONDON. Oct. 2. (Received Oct. 3. at 11.55 p.m.) The Times, in a leader, says: “As a result of signing the Tripartite Pact Japan has plunged on a course fraught with incalculable consequences for advantages which, even on the shortest view, appear negligible. Japan is already drawing every possible advantage from the war in Europe. Germany is already making a supreme effort to crush Britain and neutralise the United States. She cannot do more, even to please Japan. “ The history of the last 20 years explains, but does not condone, Japna’s latest act of folly and miscalculation. Japan began to travel rapidly down the road to disaster after the attack on China, There is a curious parallelism between the situation in Germany and Japan Both have occupied positions particularly qualifying them for economic leadership of neighbouring countries. Japan, like Germany, could have chosen the path of peaceful co-operation and played a dominant role in China’s economic development. Japan, like Germany, lacked the necessary self-confidence and plunged recklessly on the path of ruthlessness and domination.

“ Japan’s progress in the past three years has been accompanied by deliberate provocation of the Western Powers. England has not forgotten the brutal behaviour at Tientsin last summer, the arrest of British subjects in Tokio, the tragic and suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Reuter’s correspondent and the further stage of the campaign of intimidation. These things did not happen by chance, but were part of a calculated policy now extending to Americans. The Tripartite Pact marks a further, almost last, step on this path and seems deliberately to close the door. “ On looking back it must regretfully be admitted that the former cautious Japanese foreign policy has been abandoned China has received the pact with unreserved satisfaction, wisely seeing that Japan by deliberately courting the hostility of Britain, the dominions and the United States has fully mortgaged the future and involved herself in the conseciuences of Germany’s coming defeat.”