OFFER BY JAPAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1938, Page 7

OFFER BY JAPAN

FULLY PREPARED TO ASSIST GERMANY ADMIRATION AND SYMPATHY FOR HITLER COMINTERN MACHINATIONS LONDON. September 14. A message from Tokio states that Japan has declared her preparedness to assist Germany in accordance with the anti-Comitern Pact. The text of the Tokio spokesman's statement is: “Japan is fully prepared to join forces with Germany in fighting with every means against the Comintern in accordance with our agreement. “Japan hopes that the Great Powers, such as Britain and France, will recognise that Comintern intrigue is responsible for the present European crisis and/act accordingly for the sake of world peace. “The Japanese nation is full of admiration and sympathy for Herr Hitler’s speech, which is interpreted as a genuine expression of patriotism demanding a solution of the Sudeten problem with justice. “The Peace Treaty was responsible for the racial complications, and the Comintern is taking advantage of this by pulling strings behind the Czechoslovak Government. The Comintern’s machinations in Czechoslovakia are similar to its subterranean activities in China.

AMERICA’S PART

MEASURES TO EASE BLOW STUDIED. PRESS COMMENT CONDEMNS. WASHINGTON, September 14. The Treasury is studying extraordinary measures to ease the blow to American economy in the event of war. It is understood that the dollar stabilisation fund, which was established under the tripartite agreement with Britain and France, has been buying sterling, for which Britain will pay in gold. As the United' States purchases at a daily exchange rate, the fund is protected from loss. The heavy inflow of gold is continuing. The stock on September 10 was 13,301,899,894 dollars, or 166,432,100 more than on August 31. Exports of munitions have not increased materially. The New York stock market has crashed with a severity recalling the 1929 crisis. Prices have fallen as much as 10 dollars from the day’s high levels in a bout of frenzied selling, due to the Sudeten ultimatum. Stock sales totalled 1,700,000 shares, of which 1,000,000 were sold during the last hour of the day. Demand has vanished £rom the bond market for Central European countries’' securities. The American League for Peace and Freedom is urging the United States to co-operate with the democracies. Press comment is generally confined to condemnation of Hitler. The question of American participation is not raised. The United States Legation at Prague is beseiged by Americans demanding space in the Legation’s bombproof shelter.

CANADA’S ATTITUDE

NO DOUBT OF SUPPORT FOR BRITAIN POSSIBLE LIMITATIONS. GENEVA REPORT CAUSES AMAZEMENT. OTTAWA, September 13. Official Government sources expressed amazement today at a report from Geneva that Canada was reluctant to support Britain. A spokesman declared that Canada had not yet been asked to make commitments and that Britain did not need assurances. Canadians had been told that if war was declared, Parliament would be summoned before definite action was taken. The proposal to send an expeditionary force would meet with strong Parliamentary opposition, as a large body of public opinion, particularly in Quebec, is likely to insist on limiting participation to home defence. It is anticipated, however, that all steps, short of declaring war, would be taken and facilities given to volunteers to join the Imperial forces. Supplies would also be placed at the disposal of Britain. If Britain were seriously threatened, however, there would hardly be a dissenting voice on a decision to aid her by every means. The Czech crisis, at least at present, is not regarded in that category.

POSITION IN GERMANY. TENSION SLIGHTLY RELAXED. (Recd This Day, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, September 14. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent sayp quarters close to HenHitler declare ' that the tension has slightly relaxed. It is stated that no special significance attaches to the conference between Herr Hitler and the Army chiefs. No far-reaching decisions were discussed. The InspectorGeneral of the Siegfried Line has ordered the replacement of all iron railings, lamp standards and traffic signs by wooden ones. It is stated that the iron is needed for -‘other purposes."'

SUPPORT FOR BRITAIN

ATTITUDE OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT LONG CABINET MEETING (Recd This Day, 10.45 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. At the conclusion of a Cabinet meeting which lasted for more than thirteen hours, Mr J. A. Lyons (Federal Premier) made a statement on the foreign situation which is interpreted to mean that the Commonwealth Government has assured the British Government of support in any action it considers necessary in dealing with the present crisis. Mr Lyons said: “The British Cabinet has been informed that tne Commonwealth Government strongly supports the policy of the United Kingdom as declared in Mr Chamberlain’s speech on March 24.

and as reaffirmed in Sir John Simon’s speech at Lanark on August 27.” The specific points in these speeches to which Mr Lyons’s reference is taken to apply are the indication in both speeches that Britain might not be able to remain aloof if a conflict occurred.