OPTIMISTIC VIEW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1941, Page 5

OPTIMISTIC VIEW

HOPES OF AGREEMENT ENTERTAINED IN UNITED STATES. STATEMENT TO BE MADE BY PRINCE KONOYE. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK. September 10. The United States and Japan are reported to be nearing an agreement on Pacific problems, declares the “Herald Tribune.” The Japanese Premier, Prince Konoye, it is believed, is likely to announce tomorrow that the negotiations are progressing and will proclaim an independent policy for Japan in the future. The basis of negotiations, which are still proceeding, has been: First, Japan to quit the Axis; secondly, to renounce further aggression in the south Pacific and Siberia; thirdly, Japan to remove her forces from Central China: and, fourthly, to withdraw from IndoChina and confine hei - activities in the southern Pacific to trading. The United States, in return, would unfreeze Japanese assets and restore normal trade relations. Many points remain to be ironed out, but the parties are believed to be reaching a general agreement. A Shanghai report says diplomats there have heard that the JapaneseAmerican negotiations are expected to conclude this week with a preliminary agreement aimed at a complete rapprochement, subject to possible army pro-Axis opposition. It was anticipated in Shanghai that the Washington and Tokio announcements of an agreement would take the most conservative view of the difficult nature of the problems. However, the effect would be a long-term Japanese withdrawal from the Axis, permitting the United States to withdraw the fleet units to the Atlantic and opening Vladivostok to a flow of United States supplies to Russia. The United States and Britain would be able to concentrate on sending war material to the Middle East, the Near East and Russia. It was indicated that the Japanese are already discussing a possible similar Anglo-Japanese rapprochement.

REPORTS TO CABINET. Tokio announces that the Japanese Privy Council adjourned after a twohour meeting, the details of which were not divulged. However, the Domei news agency said the council heard the War Minister. LieutenantGeneral Tojo report on the general European war situation and the army chief of staff, Major-General Okamoto, report on the Russian-German war developments. The well-known political commentator, Mr Yoshitaro Shimiza, writing in the “Hochi Shimbun,” said in connection with the Japanese-American rapprochement negotiations: “If Japan allows herself to be played into the hands of the United States, then the American dollar will dominate East Asia and an irretrievable fate will overtake Japan. Let us not lose the aims of our crusade. Let thousands of lives be sacrificed on the altar. Thus crusade will be worthy of their death. This is the outcry of the entire nation.” The British Embassy in Tokio announced that the. China Navigation Company’s 3494-ton steamer Anhui was arriving at Yokohama on September 24 to evacuate Britons.