JAPAN AND U.S.A.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1941, Page 6

JAPAN AND U.S.A.

CONFLICT WOULD BE STUPID MILITARIST’S ASSERTION. OPEN WARFARE NOT LIKELY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright > (Received This Day, 1 p.m.) TOKIO, February 28. Colonel Takeo Iwakuro. War Ministry adviser, sails for the United States on March 6 as a special aide to the Ambassador. Admiral Nomura. He will, be accompanied by Colonel Kenkichishano, as a member of the Japanese purchasing comm ission. Colonel Iwakuro, interviewed, said: “Military conflict between Japan and the United States would be one of the stupidest events that ever occurred. The practice of bluffing by irresponsible elements both -in Japan and America is the chief basic reason for the present critical status.” Well-informed circles believe Colonel Iwakuro’s remarks are officially inspired, because he is known as an adamant militarist. Colonel Iwakuro asserted that, even though Japan’s needs for raw materials from the South Pacific were vital, he definitely believed that Japan would not resort to force and expressed the opinion that the situation in the Far East would not lead to open conflict unless the United States resorted to military operations, “after having tortured Japan by an undeclared economic war.”