AIMS INDICATED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 February 1941, Page 5

AIMS INDICATED

JAPANESE SOUTHERN AGGRESSION

HOPES OF AVOIDING CLASH WITH U.S.A. THE THREAT TO SINGAPORE. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright i LONDON. February 5. The Tokio correspondent of “The 'rimes" says that the Foreign Minister. Mr Matsnoka. actually indicated the line that Japan is pursuing when he told the Diet that the southward policy might cause grave friction with the I'nited States, but that lie would endeavour to make clear that the expansion was not inconsistent with American interests.

While the negotiations in Batavia. Dutch East Indies, are confined to economic questions. Japan is winning diplomatic victories in regions which are bringing her near to Singapore, and this is considered the line of least resistance as far as America is concerned.

The old policy of keeping England and America apart is again ascendant and Japan is evidently hoping that America will not ’actively obstruct an extension of her influence to Malaya. Japan believes that if Singapore is lost or muzzled her own hegemony in the Western Pacific will have been gained.

Press dispatches to Tokio from Berlin declare that the European war is likely to develop a third front toward Malaya. They add that Britain’s efforts to strengthen the Singapore defences are only moderately formidable and Britain is temporarily prepared to entrust the defence of her interests in the Far East to .America.

The. Japanese Cabinet has decided that Mr Matsuoka and the Minister at Large. Mr Hajimc Matsumiya. will represent Japan at the peace conference between Thailand and IndoChina, for which the Thai delegates will arrive by plane today.

SUPPLIES FOR CHINA

JAPANESE BLOCKADE POLICY

LONDON. February 5

A Tokio message says that the Foreign Minister, Mr Matsuoka. replying to a question by a member of the House Budget Committee, as to whether a settlement of hostilities between Japan and China would not be expedited if ships carrying supplies to the Chungking Government were sunk, he said: "The Government is actually invoking belligerent rights within the scope of necessity, but complete invocation is at present under consideration.’

The Canton correspondent of the Domei news agency reports that Japanese troops which were landed southeast of Waichow this morning have entered Tamsui. a key point on the Mirs Bay route. Japanese units which were stationed along the ChineseBritish frontier on the border of the Kowloon leased territory have begun moving to cut the Chinese retreat.