JAPAN’S NEW ALLIANCE

Southland Times, Issue 24242, 27 September 1940, Page 5

JAPAN’S NEW ALLIANCE

REPORTED PACT WITH GERMANY ATTEMPT TO DIVERT U.S. ATTENTION POLICY TO MEET FRONT WITH BRITAIN (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 26, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 25. Authoritative reports from Tokyo reaching Shanghai say that Japan and Germany have agreed in principle on a defensive alliance, to become effective in the event of British-American collaboration, for example, at the Singapore base. In such a case Japan would abandon her “non-involvement” policy. It is further stated that Herr Hitler’s personal representative, Herr Stahmer, has negotiated a provisional Japanese-German defensive pact which envisages a world-wide diversion of American attention, especially from South America and the Far East.

The Tokyo newspaper Nichi Nichi Shimbun charges the United States, Britain, and Australia with preparing “aggressive formations” against Java and other south-western Pacific countries, with the purpose of interfering with Japan’s southward policy. The newspaper adds: “British and American economic pressure is powerless to restrain Japan, who will push forward her policy with fresh energy.” It further states that Australia, since July, has been refusing permits for wool exports, for which reason Australia may be regarded as having completely fallen in with the British-American front in the Far East. Authoritative sources in Tokyo declare that the Imperial Conference on September 19 approved an alliance with Germany in principle. However, an announcement was to be delayed pending formal ratification by the Privy Council. It is understood that the alliance does not envisage immediate Japanese abandonment of the noninvolvement policy, but sets up a policy to meet a British-American front.

PACT WITH RUSSIA ft is further stated that the alliance includes German assurances of good offices towards Russia, amounting to a Russian-Japanese non-aggression pact, thereby freeing Japan to move southward. It is understood that the alliance is Germany’s proposition, designed to avert full United States support of Britain. Observers interpret the move as an indication that Berlin has decided that the blitzkrieg against Britain may not succeed, so that the alliance represents a preparation for a prolonged war.

Details of the alliance regarding South America arc vague, and are believed to have been 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.

United States officials have received with reserve the reports of a Japanese and German defence alliance. They have no doubt that diplomatic collaboration exists, but regard the Shanghai reports as a trial balloon (balloon d’essai) to test the opinion of the remainder of the world, particularly of the United States. Such a pact, it is said, would throw Japan openly into the war with Britain and would certainly aggravate the strained relations with the United States. It is officially stated in London that the GermanJapanese defensive alliance has not been unconfirmed. AID TO INDO-CHINA The New York Daily News says that the Indo-Chinese representative in Washington, Colonel Jacomy, is going to Hanoi by air bearing promises of aid short of war from the United States, including permission to buy war materials conditional on IndoChina fighting effectively and remaining independent of Nazi influence. The Daily News added that the GovernorGeneral (Admiral Decoux) has expelled fears that he is a Nazi puppet, and it is now hoped that he will lead the fighting and inspire the remainder of the French colonial countries. Authoritative Tokyo advices state that Italy is becoming a signatory to the Japanese-German alliance which so far has not been ratified, but has been agreed to in principle.