JAPANESE OVERTURE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1941, Page 5

JAPANESE OVERTURE

TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT FURTHER DISCUSSION ANTICIPATED. REPORT MADE TO CABINET IN TOKIO. LONDON, August 29. Further conversations are to take place between President Roosevelt and the Japanese Ambassador in Washington (Admiral Nomura). This information was given today by President Roosevelt. No date has yet been fixed for the future discussions. The President has net yet decided when he will reply to the message he received from Prince Konoye. President Roosevelt is to make a Labour Day broadcast on Monday. Japan's relations with the United States were considered at a meeting of the Japanese Cabinet. A full account was given to Ministers and service chiefs of the meeting between President Roosevelt and the Japanese Ambassador. It is stated that an attempt is being made to examine the points at issue between the two countries. NEW TONE TAKEN BY JAPANESE PRESS. POSSIBILITY OF WITHDRAWAL FROM AXIS. WASHINGTON, August 28. The United Press of America Washington correspondent says the circumstances of President Roosevelt’s talk with Admiral Nomura suggest an attempt to seek an American - Japanese rapprochment, possibly envisoning Japan’s withdrawal from the Axis. The New York "Herald-Tribune” Tokio correspondent says a new note has been struck in the Japanese Press after earlier belligerence. The semi-official "Japan Times” says that Japan’s ties with the democracies arc not fully cut. There is still room for diplomacy. The "Hochi Shimbun,” which is usually strongly pro-Axis, declares that Prince Konoye should not hesitate to take vigorous diplomatic steps as long as there is a possibility of a peaceful settlement with the democracies. Prince Konoye should frankly exchange views with the democracies and muster sufficient courage to avert instead of facing a crisis. The “Hochi Shimbun” says that it is not pro-British or pro-American, but also that it is definitely not a Fifth Column for Germany. The Washington representative of the New York “Herald-Tribune” says Prince Yonoye’s letter to Mr Roosevelt recalls Mi' Hirota's statement in 1934 to the effect that Pacific problems can be solved amicably. Thep, it is believed, it appeals to the President to stem increasing American-Japanese friction. The “Herald-Tribune” understands that Prince Konoye is seeking to pave the way for a Pacific settlement. STATEMENT IN TOKIO RETICENCE REGARDING OIL SHIPMENTS. LONDON, August 29. An emergency meeting of the Japanese Cabinet was held in Tokio this morning. Afterward the Japanese people were told of Prince Konoye’s message to President Roosevelt. It was stated that it contained the Imperial Japanese Government's attitude toward the position in the Pacific. The Foreign Office spokesman later said, that problems in the Pacific were covered at the Washington meeting. He said shipments of oil to Vladivostok may have been among the subjects discussed, and indicated that more talks might take place. No answer was forthcoming to inquiries by Japanese newspaper men as to whether American tankers had already arrived at Vladivostok. EXCHANGE OF VIEWS AT CABINET MEETING IN TOKIO. (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) TOKIO, August 29. The Cabinet held an emergency meeting which was attended by all the Ministers and also by Major-General Ikira .Muto, Director of the War Office Military Affairs Bureau, Rear-Admiral Takasumi Oka, Director of the Navy Ministry Bureau of Naval Affairs, and Mr Taro Terasaki, Director of the Foreign Office American Bureau. The Domei News Agency said Mr Terasaki, Prince Konoye and the Foreign Minister, Admiral Toyoda, explained the recent Japanese-American relations, including the RooseveltNomura meeting. After the meeting members of the Cabinet “unreservedly exchanged views.”