FREEDOM OF SEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 August 1941, Page 5

FREEDOM OF SEAS

ASSERTED BY UNITED STATES QUESTION OF SUPPLIES FOR RUSSIA. RY VLADIVOSTOK ROUTE. LONDON, August 27. The Japanese protest. Io Russia against the United States sending shipments of oil and petrol to Vladivostok was tiie subject of a statement, by l\lr Cordell Hull. United States Secretary of State, at a Press conference in Washington today. Air Hull said the United States stood by the freedom of the seas policy in connection with the shipment of war supplies to Russia. When asked whether the United States would continue to ship supplies by that route, he said that could be assumed as long as the freedom of the sea policy was not revoked. The Japanese Ambassador in Washington (Admiral Nomura) said he was not bringing any formal representations on the matter from his Government. SOVIET VIEWPOINT SHIPMENTS OF NO CONCERN TO JAPAN. TROUBLE IN TOKIO CABINET. LONDON, August 27. The Tass agency reports from Moscow that further talks have taken place between the Japanese and Russian Governments regarding United States shipments to Russia. The Japanese viewpoint is that these shipments of oil and munitions created a very embarrassing position for her. M. Molotov stated in Moscow that the Japanese Foreign Minister had made similar representations to the Russian Minister in Tokio. The Russian reply drew attention to the fact that the shipments came over the normal commercial routes, and that Russia could not see that this was of any concern to Japan. Russia assured Japan that the goods were not exclusively for use in the Far East, but were also for the battlefront in Europe. Russia further indicated that she would consider it an unfriendly action if. Japan were to interfere with this traffic. . . There are. indications of a bitter struggle within the Konoye Cabinet, reports the Tokio bureau of the United Press. Observers believe that a showdown is approaching. The army wants action, and the navy prefers caution, desiring a final effort to remove major differences with Britain and the United States. The “New York Times" Tokio correspondent says'the Japanase Cabinet discussed Mr Churchill's broadcast, some passages in which created hot resentment in army circles, which explains the vehemence of the Press attacks against the speech. CHINESE FEARS REFUSAL TO BE BETRAYED. IN ANY SETTLEMENT WITH JAPAN. CHUNGKING. August 26. Fears that China might be betrayed in the present Japanese-American conversations, which were termed unwarranted, were expressed by the Foreign Minister. Dr. Quo Tai-chi, in an interview with the United Press of America. He said China had long since ceased to be a mere object of other Powers’ foreign policy and had become active again on the world’s diplomatic stage. She contributed a vital share to the development of the present international situation and intended to contribute a share to the postwar reconstruction. He pointed out that a final settlement in the Pacific could not be reached without China's agreement and collaboration. China had no intention of being sacrificed. AIR OF MYSTERY MAINTAINED IN TOKIO. REGARDING RUSSIAN STATEMENT. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) * TOKIO, August 27. The Information Board declined to confirm the Moscow statement that any Japanese attempt to interfere with shipments to Russia would be regarded as an unfriendly act, and said that “foreign reports are premature.” JAPAN AGGRIEVED 1 PARTICULARLY AT PASSAGE OF PETROL. PROTESTS TO BOTH RUSSIA & U.S.A. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) TOKIO, August 27. It is disclosed that Japan has vigorously protested both to Russia and America against the shipment of American war supplies to Russia, via Vladivostok. The Dome! Agency said Japan had protested especially against shipments of high octane gasoline and also against the route selected, namely the Sea of Japan, and said it was particularly annoying that aviation gasoline, which was denied to Japan, was “passing to Russia under the very nose of Japan.” The Foreign Office spokesman, Mr Ishii, announced that representations had been made to the “Powers concerned.” i CARGOES ON THE WAY. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) NEW YORK, August 27. The Associated Press of America has picked up a Domei Agency broadcast that ten million dollars’ worth of high Octane gasoline has already left America, bound for Russia, including four shiploads which sailed from western ports about August 16,