TOKIO DISCORD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 August 1941, Page 5

TOKIO DISCORD

ARMY MAY TAKE OVER GOVERNMENT

TO PURSUE STRONGER POLICY.

OPPOSITION TO PRESENT CABINET.

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, August 20. Foreign observers believe that unless the Japanese Cobinet can announce definite gains, the army will take ever the Government and pursue a stronger policy, says a “New York Times” special correspondent. ; v The army is definitely opposed to the present Cabinet, which is labelled a navy Cabinet, adds the correspondent. The army contends that now is the time for action rather than attempt to maintain friendly relations with America and Britain. Some circles even express the opinion that the attempted assassination of Baron Hiranuma will be the forerunner of large fatal attacks on the Government leaders. The army is at present divided. One section desires an immediate attack on the Soviet. The other section prefers a move southward against Thailand, the East Indies, and Malaya, declaring that such territories are richer in necessary materials and have a more congenial climate. NAZI INCITEMENT. German fifth columnists in Tokio arc egging on the army'partisans, hoping to overthrow the navy Government, substitute an army one, and bring Japan actively to the side of the Axis.

The Domei news agency accuses Britain of feverishly stirring up a Far East crisis. Britain, it says, is desperately engaged in maintaining her rights and interests in Thailand with traditional diplomatic adroitness, while trying to let third Powers pick British chestnuts from the fire.

The Japanese Finance Minister, Mr Ogura, told the national convention of bankers and financiers that the British and American freezing of Japanese assets would have little effect on the country’s economy. He pointed out that defence expenditures were going to increase and therefore the banks and financiers were urged to purchase Government bonds. Mr Ogura warned the Japanese to prepare for increasing difficulties, described the freezing as deep-rooted economic pressure against Japan, and declared that Japan had been mobilising a self-sufficing sphere in East Asia as a counter-measure. It was announced that all petroldriven buses, taxis and private cars in Japan have been forbidden to be on the road as from September 1. The Tokio radio quoted a report from Shanghai stating that, as a result of the meeting between Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt, two-thirds of the United States Marine Corps at Shanghai would be withdrawn to Manila.