BURMA ROAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 October 1940, Page 5

BURMA ROAD

REOPENING ON OCTOBER 17 BRITISH PRIME MINISTER’S INTIMATION. COMMENT ON TRIPARTITE PACT. In his statement in the House of Commons, the 8.8. C. reports, Mr Churchill said that Britain had agreed to the closing of the Burma Road to certain supplies which might have reached China, in order to give an opportunity for a settlement, but this had not been reached. It was proposed to allow the agreement to run its course until October 16. Britain could not see her way to keep the road closed after that* date. The pact between Japan, Germany and Italy was so wholly unfavourable to Japan, Mr Churchill observed, that one wondered whether there must be some secret clauses. The pact was aimed primarily at the United States, but was also directed against Russia. POLICY OF ACTION ADVOCATED BY JAPANESE NEWSPAPER. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) TOKIO, October 8. The “Asahi Shimbun,” praising Mr Matsuoka’s speech to the Governors in an editorial, said: “Japan will not permit British and United States opposition to defeat her aim. We have only to push forward, determined that nothing will stop us. Britain and United States hostility is preposterous and incomprehensible. ATTITUDE OF SOVIET AMERICAN INQUIRIES. WASHINGTON, October 7. The Assistant-Secretary of State, Mr Sumner Welles, conferred with the Soviet Ambassador, M. Oumansky, after a lapse of several weeks, presumably regarding the Far East situation. A diplomatic official said the meeting indicated that the American officials were anxious to determine Russia’s fundamental attitude toward the tripartite pact. He said that should Russia be willing to join the United States in a “stop Japan” front, a new aspect might be given to the world diplomatic situation. He pointed out, however, that there was not yet positive evidence of the removal of the numerous elemental obstacles to a RussianAmerican accord. IRAK COTTON CROP PURCHASE FOR JAPAN. BAGDAD, October 7. , It is officially announced that Iraq has concluded an agreement under which the Mitsubishi Company will purchase' for Japan the entire cotton crop in addition to the unsold balance 4 of last year’s crop at the equivalent of 9d. a pound. AUSTRALIAN MINISTER DEPARTURE FOR TOKIO DELAYED. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The Federal Premier (Mr Menzies) announced that, owing to the political situation in Australia, Sir John Latham’s departure for Japan had been postponed until November, though some members of his staff were leaving immediately for Tokio. FORMAL NOTICE GIVEN BY THE BRITISH AMBASADOR. (Recevied This Day, 9.25 a.m.) TOKIO, October 8. The British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, has informed the Foreign Minister, Mr Matsuoka, of the non-re-newal of the Burma Road agreement. RAIDS IN HONG KONG ON JAPANESE ESTABLISHMENTS. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) HONG KONG, October 8. It is learned that the Hong Kong police at the weekend and yesterday raided several Japanese establishments, including the Bank of Taiwan, the Japanese newspaper “Hong Kong Nippo,” and the home of the “Asahi Shimbun” correspondent.

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