PLAIN WARNING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1940, Page 5

PLAIN WARNING

I GIVEN BY UNITED STATES STATUS OF DUTCH INDIES MUST BE RESPECTED. IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT HAPPENS TO NETHERLANDS. Dy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. WASHINGTON, April 18. The United States warns foreign nations to respect the status (pio io the Netherlands I Hast Indies, regardless of what happens to the Netherlands. Mr Cordell Hull, replying to Mr Arita, Japanese Foreign Minister, who made a statement interpreted to mean that Japan would not move at present, if other Powers refrained, declared: "Intervention in the domestic affairs of the Netherlands Indies or any alteration in their status quo by other than peaceful processes will be prejudicial to the stability, peace and security of the entire Pacific.” Any change in the status of the Indies, Mr Hull added, would directly aflect the interests of many countries. The Indies were very important in international relationships over the whole Pacific Ocean, and also an important factor in the commerce of the whole world. They produced considerable portions of the world’s supplies of essential commodities such as rubber, tin, quinine, and copra, and many countries, including the United States, depended substantially upon them for some of these commodities.

Mr Hull said it was firmly resolved to respect the rights of the Netherlands in their insular possessions in the Pacific Ocean. A copy of Mr Hqll’s statement has been handed to the'Japanese Foreign Office. Due to the promptness with which Mr Hull clarified the United States’ position in the light of Mr Arita’s statement, it is believed that American policy toward the situation in the Pacific is hardening. An eight-column streamer headline across the front page of the New York “Herald-Tri-bune”—“Hull warns Japan not to take Dutch East Indies”—indicates the importance that is placed on the statement. .It'is interpreted as intended to forestall developments precipitating an emergency. While both the United States and Japan now have declared; for maintenance of the status quo, their statements are pitched on different planes which may prove significant. Mr Arita declared for the status quo because of close relations between the Dutch East Indies and Japan. Mr Hull spoke from the standpoint of international interests.

The gravity of the situation is indicated by the State Department taking the unusual step of issuing a formal statement without awaiting official word from Tokio as to whether Japan’s intentions were honourable or acquisitive.

ATTITUDE OF JAPAN OBSERVATIONS BY NAVAL SPOKESMAN. ASSERTION OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS. TOKIO. April 18. Amplifying Mr Arita’s declaration, the Navy’s vice-spokesman, Commander Kanoe, said that Japan’s policy was based on non-in-volvement in the European war, and the Navy was greatly concerned as any change in the situation of the Dutch East Indies would mean an extension of >the war to that part of the world, to which the Navy very strongly objected. Directing attention to the American interest in Greenland, he said: “It is quite natural that Japan is similarly concerned with the situation. Moreover, Japan’s vital interests in the Dutch East Indies are incomparably greater than America's in Greenland.’’ He reiterated that Japan’s interests in the South Sea region, including the Dutch East Indies, were economic and without territorial designs. He added that it was imposssible to tell what would happen next or what sudden development would confront Japan. For this reason it was deemed advisable to announce her attitude in advance. An Admiralty spokesman said that development of the natural resources in the East Indies must, be made by all means, but Japan had no territorial designs there.

SWOOP POSSIBLE SUSPICIONS OF JAPAN. i POLITICAL AGENTS ALREADY ACTIVE. NEW YORK. April 18. The Shanghai correspondent of the Associated Press of America says reports of Allied naval officers state that a number of factors favour the likelihood of a Japanese swoop on the Dutch East Indies, coinciding with a German invasion of the Netherlands, chief of them being Japan’s unconcealed ambition to control the oil, rubber and tin in the Indies. The officials added that if the Dutch East Indies were grabbed, Japan’s dreams of dominating the western Pacific and ousting the European colonial Powers would be on the way toward realisation overnight. The Japanese navy is cocky and full of fight, says the correspondent, and it believes it could subugate the Indies before England and France got into action. It feels that if the American public was presented with a fait accompli. the United States would not retaliate. Japanese political agents are conducting an anti-Dutch campaign among the natives, thousands of whom belong to pro-Japanese pan-Asiatic societies. INTIMATION TO JAPAN PROTECTION NOT DESIRED BY NETHERLANDS. The Netherlands Government. Daventry reports, had informed Japan that Holland is unwilling to accept the protection of any foreign power in connection with (lie Netherlands East Indies. PRESIDENT AGREES MR HULL’S STATEMENT ENDORSED (Received This Day. 9.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON. April 18. President Roosevelt at. a Press conference. endorsing Mr. Cordell Hull’s

statement, added: “The disturbance of the status quo of the Netherlands Indies would prejudice the peace and security of the entire Pacific area." FIRM DECLARATION NO ACCEPTANCE OF FOREIGN PROTECTION. (Received This Day. 10.20 a.m.) THE HAGUE. April 18. It is announced that the Government has informed Japan that Holland would never accept a foreign offer of protection for the East Indies. BRITISH VIEW JAPAN NOT CLAIMING SOLE RESPONSIBILITY. ANOTHER TOKIO STATEMENT. (Received This Day. 11.55 a.m.) LONDON. April 18. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler) stated in the House of Commons that so far as Lord Halifax was aware. Japan had not claimed sole responsibility for the maintenance of peace in Dutch Indies waters. The Japanese Foreign Minister had stated that Japan was deeply concerned in developments which might affect the status quo of the Dutch Indies. Britain held similar views. Mr Butler added that Britain was keeping the United States informed on all matters of common interest in the Far East. The Associated Press of America Tokio correspondent states that the Foreiogn Office spokesman. Mr Simla. said: "Ouv expression of view regarding the Dutch Indies was spontaneous and not aimed at any specific nation. It was actuated only by recent developments in Europe. Japan hopes to prevent the spread of the European war to the Pacific and the step taken was in accordance with this wish."