JAPAN WARNED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1940, Page 5

JAPAN WARNED

REGARDING INDOCHINA & DUTCH INDIES STATEMENT BY MR HULL. POSITION IN SHANGHAI. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) WASHINGTON, September 5. The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, publicly notified Japan that any change in the status quo of French Indo-China and the Netherlands East Indies as a result of Japanese military operations would have an unfortunate effect upon public opinion in the United States. He revealed that the United States is standing adamantly on the refusal to allow Japanese troops to take over all the defence sectors of the International Settlement in Shanghai that were formerly patrolled by the British. "During recent months the United States, and others, including Japan, have expressed a desire that the status quo should be respected and preserved in the Pacific, with special reference to the Netherlands East Indies, and French Indo-China,” he said. “In the absence of official confirmation of the reported Japanese ultimatum to the authorities in French Indo-China this Government is reluctant to give credence to the report. However ,it is a matter to which the United States attaches importance, and it stands to reason that should events prove the report to be well founded the effect upon public opinion in the United States would be unfortunate.” Mr Hull stated that the American and Japanese forces had conferred on the assignment of .sectors in Shanghai formerly guarded by the British, but no agreement was reached. TALK IN JAPAN SOME CONFLICTING REPORTS. CONCESSIONS BY FRANCE ANTICIPATED. LONDON, September 5. A message from Tokio says that well-informed persons in Government circles expect a satisfactory solution of the difficulties in IndoChina. The talk of threatened Japanese occupation, it is said, is “decidedly premature.” A Shanghai message says it is authoritatively reported from IndoChina that Japan, while withdrawing her ultimatum, has also cancelled the plans to evacuate Japanese nationals. It is believed the action was prompted by French assurances that the demands will be acceptable when the details are worked out. It is further reported, the Shanghai message adds, that any Japanese invasion of Indo-China will be in defiance of Hitler’s desire to keep IndoChina intact. It is said that the Japanese since the collapse of France have been vainly awaiting Hitler s goahead in the Far East in return for the past Japanese co-operation with the Axis. TOUR OF OBSERVATION BY JAPANESE ENVOY. EXTENDING TO NEW ZEALAND. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) TOKIO, September 5. Mr Hajime Matsumiya has been appointed a special ambassador, to make a tour of observation of British Malaya, Indo-China, Siam, India and Oceania. The latter obviously means Australia and New Zealand and possibly New Caledonia.