“BRITISH JITTERY”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1939, Page 7

“BRITISH JITTERY”

ACCORDING TO JAPANESE ADMIRAL THREAT TO SEND FLEET RIDICULED. OVERTURE TO UNITED STATES DOUBTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) TOKIO, August 9. A navy spokesman. Rear-Admiral Kanazawa, making reference to a report that Britain had been inquiring during the crisis in the Anglo-Japanese negotiations whether America would send a strong squadron to join a reinforced British-Australian squadron at Singapore, said he doubted such an extraordinary dislocation of the international line-up, but that in any case Japan was unperturbed and would not in the least change her policy. The spokesman added that Mr Neville Chamberlain’s threat that a fleet might go to Asia amounted to bombast lor home consumption and “the fact that it was uttered reveals that the British are jittery.” SEIZURE OF MINES AMBASSADOR INSTRUCTED TO PROTEST. REMINDER TO JAPANESE. (Received This Day. 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, August 9. The Foreign Office has instructed Sir Robert Craigie to protest strongly against the Japanese attempted confiscation of the Chiaotso coal mines in the Honan Province, and also to remind the Japanese of their assurances to preserve order in the occupied areas. FOREIGN POLICY ARMY VIEWS NOT FINDING FAVOUR. ‘ DEPENDENCE ON ENGLAND & AMERICA. (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, August 9. The Tokio correspondent of “The Times" says Ministers are satisfied that a majority of influential persons support the Government’s belief that Japan’s interests will best be served by an independent foreign policy. There is little change in views, despite Army pressure. It is understood that Ministers stressed the economic arguments, pointing out that Japan depended on England and America fo>- raw materials and markets, with Italy and Germany almost valueless by comparison.