STIR IN JAPAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 July 1941, Page 5

STIR IN JAPAN

MOBILISATION ON LARGE SCALE EXPECTATION OF EARLY ACTION. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS. LONDON, July 22. All reports from the Far East suggest that some action by Japan is being prepared. Virtually all non-militai’y railway traffic in Manchukuo, Northern China and Japan has been stopped and large scale mobilisation is proceeding. One report says that China, Britain and the Free French are preparing to invade Indo-China. Japanese reserves left in occupied China have been called to the colours for training. Many Japanese troops are moving northward to North China and Manchukuo to the Siberian border. In Japan itself a large scale mobilisation of reservists is proceeding. Admiral Toyoda. the new Japanese Foreign Minister, reaffirmed that his policy would remain identical with that of his predecessor. The Japanese Government has informed the German and Italian ambassadors that Japan will continue to adhere to the three Power Pact. Well-informed quarters in Singapore are much surprised at the report of British action in Indo-China. There is no question, they state, of any such action and probably the rumours are being circulated to pave the way for action by Japan. ALLEGED PACT BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN & CHINA. JAPANESE REPORTS. TOKIO, July 22. ! The “Nichi Nichi Shimbun" gives prominence to a report from the Hong Kong correspondent of the Domei news agency that Chungking has concluded a secret military agreement with Britain and General de Gaulle, under which General Chiang Kai-shek s troops in Kwangs' and Yunnan are preparing to invade northern IndoChina. For this reason Britain is reported to have started preparations to transport native troops to southern Indo-China. The Domei agency’s Hanoi correspondent says that Britain, who is said to have been making an effort to pievent Indo-China and Thailand from exporting key materials to Japan, after. opening a branch office of rhe Economic Bureau in Singapore is submitting through the Minister, Mr Crosby, certain economic demands on Thailand. It is believed, the correspondent adds, that the United States is co-oper-ating with Britain and has submitted similar demands. assurance to axis MAINTENANCE OF PACT. (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) TOKIO. July 22. The Information Board spokesman, Mr Ishii said Admiral Toyoda (Foreign Minister) on Saturday night saw tne German Ambassador, Herr Ott, and the Italian Ambassador, Signor Indelli, and "clearly explained Japan's foreign policy. saying: "We shall continue to uphold the spirit and aim of the Tripartite Pact.”