JAPANESE PROTEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1941, Page 5

JAPANESE PROTEST

AGAINST REINFORCEMENT OF SINGAPORE DECLARATION BY SPOKESMAN. i i POLICIES ENTIRELY PEACEFUL. 'By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright' TOKIO. February 19. 'Dip Government spokesman characterised the Australians' landing at Singapore as "ank other British demonstration " designed to create the impresd sion that tlie b'ar East sitnan tion was very critical, n ■- He said the British were needlessly >f and excessively nervous, whereas the situation actually, as Mr. Ishii painted y out on Tuesday, did not warrant alarm, d While the British were free to move troops anywhere in their own territory, in the event of an attempt to menace Japan then Japan’s attitude would be firm. “Japan has done nothing to receive i warnings from any Power.” he said. • Our policies, including the southward region, are entirely peaceful.” The Japanese spokesman in Shang- ■ hai declared that Britain's moves at Singapore were part of a British and; ) American plan to strangle Japan which would be countered with appropriate measures. The spokesman did not amplify his statement beyond hinting that Japan intended to speed up the Thailand mediation. The general reaction in Tokio to the Washington decision to strengthen the defences of Guam and Samoa is that • it represents a part of British and . American plans to intimidate Japan which are certain to aggravate JapanI esc-American relations. It is felt that ; the United States will be solely re- : sponsible in the event of the worst developments arising. A spokesman said it was natural that the Japanese would be concerned about more American defences near Japan. He asked: “When has Japan declared that she would attack southern regions, including Singapore? I think the Japanese people are getting tired of such irresponsible statements abroad." It is understood that Tokio's American school will terminate 40 year’s activities in June when the term ends. At present the enrolment is 76 of which 10 are Americans, contrasting with the normal 200. The rNmerican school is the last of the British and American-managed schools throughout iJapan. N.Z. AIR UNITS STATIONED AT SINGAPORE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright> j LONDON. February 19. Famous British battalions, veteran i infantry and artillery regiments from India, and powerful squadrons of the Royal Air Force, the Australian Air Force, and New Zealand air units have arrived to discourage and, if necessary, to beat off any attack. Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke Popham. Commander-in-Chief in the Far East, emphasised recently that Singapore and Malaya have not been strengthened at the expense of Burma and Hong Kong, but in such a way as to knit them more strongly into Bri- ; tain's Far East defence scheme. BRITONS IN THAILAND NOT ORDERED TO LEAVE. (Received This Day. 9.10 a.m.) BANGKOK, Febuary 20. 1 The British Minister has informed - the Thai Government that British sub- -' jeets have not been ordered to leave 1 Thailand. He had merely suggested the desirability of British subjects ar- * ranging for their wives and children - to leave Thailand for the present. ‘ AVERTING WAR STATEMENT BY ADMIRAL NOMURA. WASHINGTON. February 19. Admiral Nomura, in an interview, said he believed Japan and the United j States could avoid war provided the United States did not take the initiative in fighting. Since his arrival in the United Stales he had found the atmosphere worse than he had expected He claimed that Japan merely sought peaceful economic expansion, and had no intention of seizing territories. | CRISIS REPORTS 1 V DENIED BY MR OHAYSHI < DESIRE FOR AUSTRALIAN COLLABORATION. I ’’ : I (Receive:! This Dav. ltd am i i*' TOKIO', February ’.’(> | ! The Vice-Minister of Fi?ri-:gn Af- < ‘ fairs (Mr Ohaysb.i' informed th- Aus-1 trail.in Minister (Sir John Latham'P’ that report- of a Far Eastern crisis 1 were groundless It is reported that j he also urged Australian collabora-j tion r ot to aggravate the situation JAPANESE FORCES HEAVY CONCENTRATION IN SOUTH. j ACCORDING TO CHUNGKING j (Received This Day. 11.0 a.m.) CHUNGKING. February 20. i'l A military -j»■ i-iesman said that over | half the Japanese Air Force in the i Asiatic mainland v,-;e concentrated mi Haman. Hido-Chma and K w.mtimg [tl lie .aided thru the Japanese were n transferring the bulk of their troops i h. in Cvniral China to Formosa and ioi Haman, to a' : set p-'-sibie operations in 1 vt the Soiitii China Seas. ; <1: