UNDER THREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 March 1941, Page 5

UNDER THREAT

OIL SUPPLIES TO JAPAN REPORTED ADMISSION IN U.S.A. EXPORTS OF AVIATION SPIRIT INCREASED. (By Telegraph—Press Association-j-Copyright) NEW YORK, March 20. America’s oil companies are selling Japan more than 75 per cent, of the oil needed to continue the war with China and are doing so with the full approval of the State Department, declares 'the “New York Post.” Japan has repeatedly warned the world that if she does not get oil from America she will try to obtain it by force from the Indies. Thus it is a question which is worse, a possible Japan-American war or the continuance of shipments. Officials admit anxiety in keeping peace in the Pacific, for which reason they are conniving at the liberalisation of the “embargo” with the full approval of the British Government. Japan, despite rigid restrictions on the civil consumption, consumes from 25,000,000 to 35,000,000 barrels of oil annually and produces less than 10 per cent, of her minimum requirements. American exports of oil since the fall of France have been going to only two major countries, England and Japan, the latter’s imports totalling 23.400,000 barrels in 1940. Exports of aviation spirit have actually increased since the embargo in July.