U.S.A. & JAPAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 October 1941, Page 5

U.S.A. & JAPAN

RESUMPTION OF TALKS IN WASHINGTON ANTICIPATION OF AMERICAN INITIATIVE. QUESTION OF VLADIVOSTOK SHIPMENTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copy right I LONDON, October 24. The talks between the United States and Japan on the Far East situation have been resumed in Washington. The spokesman of the Japanese Cabinet Information Board, Mr Ishii, said all points had been explained, and added that now it was rather up to President Roosevelt and his Secretary of State, Mr Hull. Commenting on America’s decision to use the Atlantic route for the supply of Materials to Russia, Mr Ishii said the eased the feeling between Japan and America, as the impression given to the Japanese people by the convoy of shipments of goods to Vladivostok could be understood. President Roosevelt’s secretary, Mr Early, expressed surprise at the announcement of the change of route. Aid would go to Russia on schedule and in the quantities agreed to. “We might as well send a telegram to Hitler and announce when and how aid to Russia will go,” he said. SOVIET FORCES NOT WEAKENED SERIOUSLY IN SIBERIA. FACTOR IN FAR EASTERN LULL. MANILA. October 23. The large forces which Russia is still maintaining on the Siberian border are believed to be the chief factor in influencing the present lull in the Far Eastern situation. Reliable military information shows that, despite reports to the contrary, Russia has not seriously weakened her Far Eastern forces. She still has 500,000 troops along the Siberian-Man-chukuan border and another army of 350,000 in the sector extending from Lake Baikal to the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Red Army has transferred five reserve division and some fighter plane and tanks from east of the Urals to the Moscow area, but the equipment will soon be replaced byshipments from the United States. Another sobering influence felt in Tokio is the alertness of Britain, the United States and the Netherlands East Indies to prevent any further nibbling which may whet Japan’s imperialistic appetite. Dutch observers in the Far East do not believe that outbreak of war in the Palific.. is imminent, mainly because Japan is not yet ready and knows it, despite the urgings of the German Ambassador, General Ott. These observers believe, however, that the war of nerves will be intensified. The various military, diplomatic and economic fronts on which Japan finds herself at present embroiled are also influencing the lull.

Japan is engaged in subjugating Indo-China and in intrigues in Thailand. She is policing occupied China, fighting Free China and watching Siberia.

She is engaged in alternately putting out economic feelers to the Netherlands Indies and issuing threats against the Dutch. ’ She is also endeavouring to build up the Caroline Islands as an arrowhead against the outer islands of the East Indies and British and Dutch New Guinea.