INDIES REBUKED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 February 1941, Page 5

INDIES REBUKED

JAPANESE NEWSPAPER'S BLUSTER

REJECTION OF EAST ASIA SCHEME.

AUDACIOUS & IMPERTINENT.”*

•Ry Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) TOKIO. February 3. The “Teito Niehi Niehi Shimbun” says: “The Netherlands East Indies is taking

such an audacious and impertinent attitude in rejecting participation in the Japaneseadvocated East Asia co-pros-perity sphere because Japan has not bombed Hong Kong

and Singapore. If such drastic action is taken by Japan, the Netherlands Indies’ authorities will he nimble io raise a finger.”

The "Asahi Shimbun.” commenting on the Netherlands attitude, said: "This is not strange because the Dutch Government is located in London and is under British influence."

The army has opened a two-day conference to increase its efficiency "on account of the unprecedented difficulties confronting Japan.” All the chiefs of staff are attending the conference, including General Itagaki. commander of the forces in China.

The “Niehi Niehi Shimbun” says that the Finance Ministry has decided to seek drastic foreign exchange control laws empowering the Government to seize the properties of foreigners as retaliatory action in the event of it being necessary to protect Japanese properties abroad.