SOUGHT BY JAPAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 February 1941, Page 5

SOUGHT BY JAPAN

NAVAL BASE IN SOUTHERN INDO-CHINA

JUMPING-OFF PLACE

FOR ATTACK ON INDIES

'By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright( LONDON. February 4. The likelihood of Japan gaining a naval base in Cam-ranh Bay, Annam, as a reward for her mediation in the Thailand-Indo-China dispute is causing concern in British, American and Chinese circles. The Chinese insist that Japan's moves presage an attack on Singapore. British and American diplomats admit that the moves mean that Japan will have obtained an important jumpingoff place for her South Pacific goal Well-informed circles believe that the Dutch East Indies will be able to resist a Japanese attack for only two months.

Japanese militarists are convinced that the proper time to launch an offensive against the Indies would be at the time of Germany's expected allout attack, on Britain.

There is no belief that Japan can be made to surrender her East Asia policy either by threats or by mildly punitive actions like embargoe. Since the embargo and threat tactics were evolved, there has been a great intensification in the "totalitarianisation" of Japan and the militarists are in complete control.

The Tokio newspaper "Kokumin Shimbun" says it is self-evident that Japan will go forward with her fixed policy and it will not matter what attitude the Dutch East Indies takes toward Japan's hequest for co-opera-tion.

A fresh development in the Far Eastern situation was a statement today by the Soviet Premier. M. Molotov, that he was willing to appoint representatives to discuss a trade treaty’ with Japan. Il is believed that Japan is making an effort to clinch the German assurances regarding Soviet neutrality by the formulation of a Russian-Japanese non-aggression pact. Russia has become an extremely important factor, but the paramount factor is Germany’s mooted all-out attack on Britain. The successful repulse of this attack would be the strongest deterrent to Japan. Japan did not care to risk war with the United States over the Japanese aspirations in Asia, said the Foreign Minister, Mr Matsuoka, at a meeting in Tokio today of the Budget Committee of the Lower House.

"The situation between Japan and the United States has never been marked with greater misunderstandings than exist at the present time.” the Minister said. He added that the .American nation failed to understand Japan’s real conditions and equally misunderstood Japan's real power, and he announced his intention or redoubling his efforts to convert Americans to Japan's point of view which was embodied in the Three-Power Pact with Germany and Italy. It is noted today that the reaction of the United States Press to the position taken up by the Netherlands East Indies in regard to Japan's ambitions in Asia is one of strong support. The! foreign affairs expert of the Scripps-, Howard chain of newspapers says that, the new Japanese Ambassador ini Washington will find the United States! resolutely opposed to Japanese expansion at the expense of China and the! East Indies. MALAYA FRONTIER DEFENCES STRENGTHENED. | • Received This Day, 10.30 a m ) BANGKOK. February 5. Travellers from Malaya state that; Hie British have strengthened the f Siam-Malayan frontier defence*