WAR SPOILS

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1940, Page 7

WAR SPOILS

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

DIVISION PLANS gist of axis alliance NO SURPRISE IN BRITAIN

British Official Wireless. Rec. 6.30 p.m. Rugby, Sept. 28. There is naturally no surprise at the Axis-Japanese pact expressed in British newspapers, and the Times' statement, "Thus Japan makes a formal declaration of sympathies that have never been concealed," is typical of all comment. "The gist of the document," the T'mes continues, "is the definition of division of the spoils which it. is tacitly assumed will shortly fall to the invincible arms of the associates. When that happens there will be three continents for disposal, so Japan is confirmed in the 'leadership' of the 'great Asiatic livingspace' and in return recognises the corresponding hegemony of her partners in Europe and Africa. "It has already been very obvious that there is room for only one dominant power in Europe, and Signor Mussolini has had a strong hint to seek future expansion on the other side of the Mediterranean. Thus the allotfnent of a continent apiece to three empires secms plainly written between the lines of the pact. What of Soviet and China? "All other nations are to * be given their own proper place and this will not seem large for the Soviet or China and suggests that the clause against other Powers in the event of their intervention in the two wars already beinjj waged is dictated by totalitarian dread of American intervention. It is evident]y to the advantage of the Axis tr. threaten to close Asia against American interests in the hope of diverting American resources from assisting thc Allied cause in Europe. It is equally desirable to Tokio to gain allies— even if only on paper— before proceeding further with the campaign of aggression which every day threatens American influence more directly." The News Chronicle says: "The triple alliance of aggressors" would have been eonsummated earlier but for the Ger-man-Soviet pact, which caused friction along the Berlin-Tokio axis. "M. Stalin can hardly fail to feel that Herr Hitler is now taking out an insurance policy in the Far East against the possibility of an earl.y disagreement with Russia in the west. In the not distant future Russia may be faced with the specti e of war on two fronts." Nothing More Than Damp Squib. The Daily Telegraph says: "From the British standpoint it is plain that what was intended as a bombshell proves to be nothing more serious than a damp squib. since our military and strategic position is not affected to the smallest degree. We can safely predict that the present pact will be as dead as the German-Polish one five years hence, but for a very different reason, that two at least of the partners will be floundering among the debris of lost wars." The Daily Mail comment on the AxisJapanese pact 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. Before another year the greater part of the world may be aflame." The announeement of the pact had caused little surprise in London in view of the flood of propaganda which preceded it from German and, as usual, from the faithfully echoing Italian sources. No official comment is offered on the pact. The authorities at present are dependent for information on the pact on public pronouncements from Berlin. although reports of the sanctioning of the alliance by the Emperor of Japan had prepared the way for such an announeement.

Comment Withheld. Although authoritative British comment, for the present is withheld it is noted that the ecstatic effusion with which Berlin greeted the development is in marked contrast to the reserved comment from Japan. While there is no inclination here to assume that this apparent lack of enthusiasm denot.es coolness in Japan towards the new move, unofficial observers of thc general situation in London find it difficult to , discover what Japan may cxpect to get j out of the agreement. It is, in their, view. equally obscure what raw materials or other assistance can be contrib- ^ utcd by Germany and Italy. who arC| now putting forward a maximun effort a ainst the British Empire. j The reference to Ihe Japanese "new order for Asia" appcars purely acadcmic. j There is, indecd, no sign that Japan j needs German and Italian assistance in j promoting plans she has conceivcd j independently. Neither Germany noi Italy, in fact. is in a position to makc any contribulion whatcvcr. Thc a greemont, in short, appeais designed to have maximuni propaganda

if not material value for Germany and l Italy. but its utility to Japan is ex- j tremely dnub'.ful and commentators here 1 find it difficult to resist the conclusion that Japan has been hurried into an agreement. which can bring her only embarrassment of undertakings she will 1 rvc to carry on alone. It is noted that article three of the agreement provides that Germany, Italy ar.d Japan agree lo collaborate on all questions and aid eaeh other by all economic arv"' military nieans if one of the three signatories is attacked by a naUvn not taking part. in the war— a provision designed presumabl.v to intimidate the United States. for it is difficult to suggest any other Power to which it could possibly refer. There is a natural inclination on the part of the press to read this article in relation to recent moves at Washington and notably last night's announeement that an embargo had been placcd from Cetobcr 15 on the exports of iron and stecl scrap to all nations savc tho.se of Ihe we.stern hcmisphere and Britain. This announeement was accompanied hy the news that. thc United States metal Reserve Company had agreed to ^ buy £7.500,000 worth of tungsten from China and that the Import-Export Bank. anolhrr official inslitution, is to lcnd China £6,250,000.