MATSUOKA’S PLANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1941, Page 5

MATSUOKA’S PLANS

POSSIBILITY OF VISIT TO BERLIN RUMOURS NOT CONFIRMED. EFFECT ON AMERICAN RELATIONS. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) TOKIO, March 7. The Cabinet Information Bureau spokesman, Mr. Ishii, questioned regarding the reports that Mr. Matsuoka was considering going to Berlin and Moscow, said: "I heard such rumours, however I can’t confirm them.” It is reliably stated that Mr. Matsuoka originally was scheduled to leave on February 28, however, the final decision was postponed. This was due to growing opposition on the ground that the visits might be particularly harmful to Japanese-Ameri-can relations at present, when there is some hope that .Admiral Nomura may be able to improve these relations. Referring to the subject of Thailand-Indo-China negotiations Mr. Ishii said: “We have no intention of further extending the truce. It is unnecessary because agreement has been reached on the main points of the Japanese plan.” He was unable to say whether the negotiations would be concluded today, and said a joint commission undoubtedly had been established to determine the border. Asked if he thought .'Mr. Cordell Hull would like the fact of negotiations being settled. Mr. Ishii said: “I think so. Mr. Hull likes peace.” EARLIER REPORTS ONE-SIDED ALLIANCE WITH GERMANY. OBLIGATIONS TO NAZIS. NEW YORK, March 6. Rumours that the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Matsuoka, will shortly visit Berlin, with a stop at Moscow en route, though still officially unconfirmed have acquired greater solidity from the imminent conclusion of Japan’s mediation between Indo-China and Thailand and the departure of Major-General Ott. German Ambassador to Tokio, says the Tokio correspondent of the "New York Times.” It is suggested that the Japanese people have become conscious that the Japanese-German alliance, as it stands, is one-sided. It places Japan under an obligation to come to Germany’s assistance if Germany is ' attacked, but Germany has not undertaken a corresponding obligation to Japan. This arrangement was criticised in the House. Mr. Matsuoka replied: “Treaties are not everything. The situation must be constantly watched, and situations met as they arise.” It is suggested in some quarters that Mr. Matsuoka wishes to have this onesided condition rectified, in which case the Germans also, it is assumed, might want to have Japan’s obligations tightened up. INTOLERABLE SITUATION' AMERICAN ACTION URGED. SINGAPORE AS A BASE. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, March 7. General David Barrows, past President of the University of California, in a speech prepared for radio delivery, said: "The intolerable military situation in the Far East calls for a statement to which Congress must assent — call it. if you like, an ultimatum—that Japan must retire her forces, entirely from the south or suffer an immediate attack by the American fleet. The attack cannot be delivered from Hawaii, it would be hazardous to keep the -fleet at Manila, but Singapore would be adequate. Japan had advised us that the presence of the United States fleet at Singapore would be treated as an act of war. If this is a gage of battle, let us pick it up and have the issue settled.”

EASTERN DISPUTE VICHY ACCEPTS PRINCIPAL POINTS. NEW YORK. March 6. . The Tokio correspondent of the “New York Times” says that Vichy’s latest communication to the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr Matsuoka, today accepted all the principal points in Japan's plan for settlement of the Thai-lndo-China dispute. ALMOST CONCLUDED. BORDER COMMISSION BEING SET UP. LONDON, March 7. The mediation conference in the dispute between Thailand and French Indo-China had virtually concluded, said the Japanese Foreign Office spokesman. Mr Ishi, today. The armistice between the two parlies, which expires at noon today, would not be extended. Boitb had agreed to the principal points in the Japanese proposals. The new border line between Thai and Indo-China would be demarcated by a border commission.