JAPAN & U.S.A.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 August 1941, Page 5

JAPAN & U.S.A.

DELICACY ADVISED

BY TOKIO SPOKESMAN.

IN HANDLING FAR EASTERN

SITUATION

(By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) RONDON, August 19. American diplomacy should have delicacy in handling the Far Eastern sit-

uation, said the spokesman of the Japanese Cabinet Information Bureau, Mr Ishii. The new restrictions regarding the» entry, residence and departure of foreigners applied to all aliens, regardless of nationality, and were comparable to similar legislation in other countries, including the United States. Mr Ishii said that Americans could leave Japan “only if the Japanese Government gives permission." He added that they must be considered case by case. No Americans would be permitted co leave in any case unless the United States sends ships for them. Mr Ishii claimed that the American Embassy was promised that only 22 officials could leave by the liner President Coolidge if it came to Japan and then tried to send 100 civilians on the ship, whereupon Japan broke off discussions about the liner. TROOPS IN MALAYA JAPANESE ESTIMATES OF STRENGTH. SHANGHAI, August 19. The Domei news agency’s Saigon correspondent says that approximately 73,000 British troops, including 4200. Indians, plus 250 aircraft, are massed within twenty kilometres of the ThaiMalaya frontier, that 33.000 British troops, including’ 25,000 Burmese, are stationed in Burma with headquarters at Mandalay, and that 20.000 British troops are at Singapore. TOKIO’S MOVE MAY BE IRREVOCABLE STEP INTO WAR. AMERICAN PAPER'S WARNING. WASHINGTON, August 19. The next step for Japan might be the irrevocable step into war, says the “New York Times” which points out that the United States Ambassador in Tokio, Mr Grew, has dispelled any doubts the Ja-

paness Government might enter-

tain that it could take further ag-

gressive action and escape punishment.

It says that a new crisis with Japan is predicted within 20 days, when the first American tanker for Russia will be entering Japanese waters headed for Vladivostock. Washington observers consider that these shipments are a “test case” designed to find out how far Japan is prepared to go in blocking military supplies to Russia. One suggestion that is being talked of to halt Japan’s march is a single defence front stretching from the Amur River in Siberia through China, Thailand, Singapore, and the Dutch East Indies, with the remoter bases in Australia and New Zealand. A stiong Russian army, the newspaper adds, is standing fast in eastern biberia icady to counter any Japanese move.