BASELESS STORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1941, Page 6

BASELESS STORY

OF UNITED STATES OFFER - TO JAPAN MR CORDELL HULL’S DENIAL. NEED OF NATIONAL AWAKENING (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) WASHINGTON. August 11. The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, in a Press interview today, said there was no basis for the report that the United States had offered a plan of settlement involving a certain concession to Japan if the Japanese would withdraw from the Axis. He added if the ' United States, took up anything with Japan regarding a general settlement, it would- be based on all the fundamentals and principles already enumerated. A.ny rapprochement would have to. start from the creation of peaceful order in the Orient, as outlined in the Note to Japan in 1937. Mr Hull said if Congress failed to extend the Army service it would have an extreemly bad psychological effect on the international situation. On the general question of whether the dangers warranted the extension, Mr Hull replied that the reading of newspaper 'headlines should emphasise the reality of the warnings. The Pressmen pointed out that some members of Congress appeared to be utterly unaware of these dangers. Mr Hull said that seemed to be what was the matter with the country. One reporter suggested that Mr Hull and other leaders should go before the country and use a few cusswords. Mr Hull replied that one of the many criticisms directed against him was that he had used too many cusswords. JAPANESE EXODUS DEPARTURES FROM MALAYA. (Received This Dav. 11.50 a.m.) SINGAPORE, August 11. According to Japanese sources, the first batch of Japanese leaving Malaya has arrived at Bangkok. A second batch is leaving on August 13.

STRATEGIC ISLANDS

OCCUPATION BY UNITED STATES. AIR BASES TO BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) WASHINGTON. August 11. Johnston and Palmyra, strategic islands in the Pacific, will be taken over by the United States Navy and Air Commands this week. The islands will be used as bases' for patrol and emergency landing fields, and fuel depots, for seaplanes operating from Hawaii. The bases will be rushed to completion. THAILAND DEFENCE REINFORCEMENTS SENT TO FRONTIER. NEUTRALITY TO BE UPHELD. (Received This Day. 11.50 a.m.) LONDON. August 11. The Thailand Government has sent reinforcements to strategic points on the Indo-China frontier, reports the British United Press Bangkok correspondent. This action followed an emergency meeting of Cabinet at which it was decided to take active steps to maintain neutrality and control frontier traffic. JAPANESE REPORT AMERICAN PROPOSAL TO SOVIET. CONCERTED ACTION AGAINST AGGRESSION. (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) TOKIO, August 11. The “Hochi Shimbun” says informed sources in Vladivostock revealed that the United States had proposed that America and Russia should take concerted defensive measures in the event of a third Power attacking the Netherlands Indies.