OF BRITISH DESIGNS ON THAILAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1941, Page 6

OF BRITISH DESIGNS ON THAILAND

DENIED AUTHORITATIVELY IN LONDON. EARLIER SIMILAR TACTICS RECALLED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY. August 4. Reports that Britain is seeking to obtain naval and air .bases in Thailand, and that ,she has sent 100,000 troops to the Burma-Thai-land (border, have been authoritatively denied in London, where it is 'recalled that reports (of a similar and equally unfounded nature were set in circulation concerning British intentions in relation to French Indo-China. The position of Thailand is accordingly being watched carefully in London and with some concern, but various expressions of the Thai Government’s determination to preserve its independence and integrity have been noted with satisfaction. The Australian Minister for War, Mr Spender, reviewing the international situation at Sydney, declared that Australia had the equivalent- of five to six divisions at overseas battle stations, and all had been transported without loss of life. Mr Spender said the Commonwealth looked forward to rising tension in the Far East with calm and determined eyes. “We have never sought to disturb the peace in the Pacific,” he said. “On the contrary, we havetried to preserve it.” The sharp and decisive economic preliminary steps taken by the British Commonwealth and the United States, Mr Spender added, had. surprised Japan, but indications were that Japan was contemplating further action. Britain had no designs on Indo-China and a similar declaration by Japan would be welcomed.

IN DIFFICULTIES STRANDED AMERICANS IN JAPAN. NO MEANS OF GETTING AWAY. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) TOKIO. August 4. The cancellation of sailings to America has raised serious problems. More than a hundred Americans, having booked by the Nitta Maru, had sold their homes and furniture and reserve food. Reports indicate that the food problem. is becoming serious. The shipping suspension has almost isolated Americans and other foreigners in Japan, because bookings to Shanghai are not obtainable. Ships are sailing to Shanghai from. Nagasaki, but police travel trictions prevent foreigners from reaching Nagasaki. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr H. Ino) after touring flood zones in the Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures, said he was surprised at the extensive damage to crops. He stressed the urgency of an immediate increase in agricultural output and admonished farmers not to abandon themselves to despair. Mr Ino said soldiers were undergoing greater hardships at the front.

PESSIMISTIC TONE

TAKEN IN TOKIO PRESS. “RESOLVED TO MEET WORST.” (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) TOKIO, August 4. _ The Associated Press of America’s correspondent reports that the newspapers have adopted a very pessimistic view of JapaneseAmerican relations. Today the “Asahi Shimbun” said: “There is no room for readjustment because the American attitude is increasingly hostile. Through the self-conceit of the United States the waves in the Pacific are rising higher, but we are resolved to meet the worst.

RATIONING OF GOODS

INSTITUTED IN MANCHUKUO.

(Received This Day. 9.40 a.m.) TOKIO, August 4

The Dcmei Agency’s Hsinking correspondent says Manchukuo has rationed rice, flour, dairy products, salt, sugar, matches, cotton goods and rubber shoes, in order to stabilise distiibu tion.

BRITISH WARSHIPS

REPORTED IN THE GULF OF -SIAM. (Received This Day. 10 a.m.) SAIGON, August 4. Unofficial reports, regarding which the Associated Press of America s correspondent is unable to obtain confirmation, state that a British naval souadron, including the battleship Warspitc, has been sighted in the Gulf of Siam.

DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGE

EXEMPTIONS FROM FREEZING ORDER. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) SHANGHAI. August 4. The Domei Agency says the Japanese Government has agreed to exempt 80 British and 4 Australian Embassy and Consular officials from the freezing restrictions because of similar treatment accorded to Japanese diplomats.

JAPANESE TROOPS

CONTINGENTS ARRIVING AT DARIEN. (Received This Day. 10 a.m.) NEW YORK, August 4. The Associated Press of America’s correspondent says Japanese troops continue to arrive at Darien. New contingents include numerous cavalry units, which are believed to have been sent directly from Japan. There have been no withdrawals from the China fronts recently.