BLOW TO CHINA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1941, Page 5

BLOW TO CHINA

SEEN BY THE JAPANESE IN PACT WITH SOVIET. NEW THREAT OF SOUTHWARD AGGRESSION. I,By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright! TOKIO. April 13. Political observers expect that Japan will now feel free lo adopt a more aggressive southward policy with a rcsnltanl worsening of Japanese relations with the I’niied States.

It is believe, 1 tl’.at Japan's next step will be to make very strong efforts lo .settle the Chinose war through Soviet mediation. The fifth year of the wai begins in July, and it is expected that Japan will request Russia to exert pressure on General Chiang Kai-shek to amalgamate the Chungking Government with Mr Wang Ching-Wei's regime under liberal terms. Commenting on the pact, the Premier, Prince Konoye, said: "Japan signed the Tripartite Pact to prevent the spread of the war throughout the world, but the fulfilment of larger Japanese purposes required a fundamental adjustment of Russian-Japan-ese relations. I believe that this pact will greatly contribute to the promotion of world peace, and will also serve as the basis for a rapid and concrete solution of the various pending Russian-Japanese questions." The newspaper "Nichi Nichi Shimbun" says: "In substance the pact bears the character of a non-aggression pact.” The "Asahi Shimbun” says: "Japan and Russia have revealed a policy toward. the maintenance of Far Eastern peace.” The "Yomiuri Shimbun’’ says: "It 1.a great shock to the world when United States entry into the European war is imminent and is a poignant blow to Chungking." The Domei news agency, commenting on the pact, says it guarantees Japan's northern backdoor in the event of her involvment in war in the Pacific.

The "Nichi Nichi Shimbun's'' evening edition says the pact offers a new turning point for the disposal of the China affair because "it is only proper that the neutrality provision will be applied and eliminate Soviet assistance to Chungking.” The paper asserted that the treaty eliminates Japan's dual strategy versus United States and Russia, which has been Japan's biggest misgiving in connection with the socalled Pacific crisis, thereby permitting Japan to concentrate on her southward programme. Saying that this feature constitutes the treaty's most important meaning, the paper adds that the treaty completely shuts out a United States approach toward the Soviet.

OPINION IN SHANGHAI FALSE SECURITY PURCHASED BY JAPAN. SHANGHAI. April 14. Chinese and American circles fcai that the Moscow pact will accentuate Japan's "positive policy" and increase the likelihood of a collision with the western Powers, especially the United States. The American-owned "Post Mercury" said: "Japan has not purchased real security through the pact. She has bought false security, in reality worse than none at all. because she will never be sure that Russia will not move in as soon as Japan is too exhausted to fight." The Japanese army organ "Tairiku Smipao” termed the pact a Soviet diplomatic victory, enabling Russia eventually to move toward India. BRITISH COMMENT A DISTINCTION DRAWN. (British Official - Wireless.) RUGBY, April 13. Competent commentators, draw distinctions between the pact signed recently between Soviet Russia and Yugoslavia and that between Soviet Russia and Japan, the conclusion ol which is announced today. Whereas in the case of Yugoslavia the pact provides that if one party is attacked by a third power the other would maintain a policy of friendship, the pact with Japan merely stipulates for neutrality in such an event. It is noted, however, that Japan has underlined in this pact the clause which was added to the Tripartite Pact for her benefit and specifically exempted her from any. obligation to undertake hostilities against the Soviet. Though future events may give importance to this pact, in the existing circumstances it makes but little difference. The Soviet seems to be the more favoured party and commentators sum up the situation by remarking that Mr Matsuoka seems to have had to wait a long time for very little,

CHUNGKING VIEW

REDUCTION OF SOVIET AID UNLIKELY.

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) CHUNGKING, April 14. Informed circles express the opinion that the Soviet recognition of Manchukuo is likely to evoke Chungking protests but they are generally confident that the treaty will not decrease Soviet aid to China.. The Army organ “Ssting pao” says: “The pact docs not produce any unfavourable influence for China, however useful it is for the purpose of producing a certain psychological effect in Soviet-Japanese relations." The “Takung pao" predicted that the pact foreshadows an immediate Japanese push southward and a consequent large Pacific war.

BERLIN SILENT

SATISFACTION EXPRESSED IN ROME. LONDON, April 14. IVL Stalin was among (hose on the station at Moscow to farewell Mr Matsuoka when lie loft for Tokio. The “Pravda." Moscow, hails the neutrality pact with Japan as a document of great political importance. By signing it, the paper says, the Soviet Union and Japan have bound them-selves-to be good neighbours and not

to interfere in each other's historical path. In Rome the pact is received with great satisfaction. The Slei'ani '(ltalian) agency declares it to bo a fresh organ of order and peace. Berlin still remains silent on the subject.

NOW INEVITABLE WAR IN THE PACIFIC. ACCORDING TO CHINESE PAPER. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) CHUNGKING April 14. The influential Chinese newspaper “Takunpac” declared today that war in the Pacific is now ine-' vitable and carried the headline, over the news of the Russo-Japan-. » ese Pact, “Soviet Appeasement of ’ Japan.” The newspaper pointed out that in Singapore Sir Archibald Clark ..Kerr and the British military and naval officials would have to weigh carefully the accord and implications of (he pact. A source close to the high Chinese military authorities expressed confidence that any new Japanese drive in China, resulting from the treaty, could be handled successfully by the Chuiese. and added that the pact must be regarded as merely an incident in the four-year China struggle. Observers hero expressed keen interest in the reaction of the Chinese Communists, who have always insisted that a Japanese-Spviel agreement was impossible. Some sources said that, if the Communists continued to follow Moscow, their position in China would deteriorate seriously.

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is cabled Io Australia and New Zealand by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions arc not those ot “Till* Tinies" unless expressly stated to be so. By special arrangement. Renter's world

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