POTENTIAL THREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 October 1941, Page 5

POTENTIAL THREAT

TO AUSTRALIAN SAFETY

JAPANESE AIR BASE AT DILL). CONSIDERATION BY WAR CABINET. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) MELBOURNE, October 16. Moving swiftly, the Australian War Cabinet has discussed z with the chiefs of the fighting services the implications in the Japanese air base at Dilli, only 450 miles from Darwin. Vital major changes in Australia’s defence strategy are expected and the result probably will involve even closer co-opera-tion with the United States and the Dutch authorities. Cablegrams to overseas friendly Pacific countries, seeking their views, were dispatched immediately the Cabinet sitting ended. It is understood that the service chiefs told the War Cabinet that this latest Japanese step might develop into a potential threat to Australian safety. Whatever decisions are taken by the War Cabinet will be in full accord with the British Government and in consultation with the United States. The British Commander-in-Chief, Far East, Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, today had a conference with the service heads.

The Consul-General for Japan, Mr Itsuo Goto, today in Sydney denied that there was any military significance in Japan’s move. He claimed that it was purely a commercial venture permitting their new air service to connect Dilli with Quantas Airways flying-boats, thus speeding up the present communications between Japan and Australia.

In Batavia the newspaper “Java Bode” points out, in connection with former trial flights between Pelew and Dilli, that Japan never asked permission nor did her machines fly over Netherlands East Indies territory. Japan only asked for every flight meteorological and navigation facilities, which the Netherlands East Indies Government granted. A Singapore report states that Japanese in Dilli have purchased three farms, one overlooking the fort, another overlooking the wireless station and a third above the harbour. Quantas Airways flying-boat passengers passing through Dilli, recently saw other evidence of Japanese infiltration into Portuguese Timor.

STIRRING UP TROUBLE NOTORIOUS NAZI AGENTS SENT TO THAILAND. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 15. It is authoritatively stated in London that there,is reason to believe reports that the notorious Ernst Wendler has been appointed German Minister to Thailand and that the Gestapo agent Franz Haueber has also been posted to that country. Wendler was Minister in Bolivia, and a few months ago he was ordered to leave at 24 hours’ notice following upon the discovery of his activities in a plot to overthrow the existing Bolivian Government and set up one more favourable to the Nazis in its place, the discovery of his activities in a plot to overthrow the existing Bolivian Go-

vernment and set up one more favourable to the Nazis in its place. Haueber became notorious by reason of his activities in the Home Office at Tokio, where he established himself as a first-class trouble-maker. These two men are regarded as exactly the type of person who would be sent to Bangkok if the Nazis decided it would be useful to employ the capital of Thailand as a place for fomenting trouble between Japan and the democracies.