JAPANESE AIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 November 1941, Page 6

JAPANESE AIMS

MR KURUSU'S POSSIBLE TACTICS THREAT TO BURMA ROAD. CONCENTRATION OF TROOPS IN INDO-CHINA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1 p.m.) SHANGHAI, November 6. The Associated Press of America’s diplomatic correspondent has expressed the opinion that Mr Kurusu will attempt to obtain trade and especially oil concessions from the United States by threatening military moves to break the A.B.C.D. encirclement. ' Military information indicates that the Japanese have placed 50,00 troops in garrison at Tonking and 32,000 in South Indo-China, plus numerous planes and apparently are preparing to strike at the Burma Road. It is said to be significant that the Gover-nor-General of Formosa, Admiral Kiyoshi Hasegawa, is conferring with General Tojo and Admiral Shimada, since foreign military experts believe that it would require a minimum of 150,000 troops to sever the Burma Road, a majority of whom, plus supplies, would be from Formosa. FINAL EFFORT ACCORDING TO JAPANESE PRESS. (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) TOKIO, November 6. The United Press of America’s correspondent reports that Japan embarked today on what the Press described as a final effort in the Washington negotiations, which may decide “whether the entire world shall have peace.” “The Times and Advertiser” says: “Whether the clipper carrying Mr Kurusu to America will prove a peace ark of the skies depends upon Washington’s reception of this last opportunity to make amends for aggression and restore an occasion for amicable settlement. By despatching an envoy as powerful as an aide to Admiral Nomura, Cabinet can disclose to the people that it has gone to the last limit in seeking to persuade America from the path of intolerance. However, the people are warned against ‘unnecessary optimism’.” “The Times and Advertiser” said it will not change the basic requirements that the China affair must be settled in Japan’s way, and the United. States must accept the co-prosperity sphere. “Into this twofold doctrine,” it adds, “America will have to fit its new policy of no obstruction.”

The “Nichi Nichi Shimbun” has continued its editorial attacks and has charged Washington with trying to prolong negotiations merely in order to win time to improve defences in the Pacific and Atlantic.

However, due to official instructions from the Foriegn Office, Press comment generally is more moderate. There are even hints, in comments such as those in the Nationalistic “Hochi Shimbun,” of hopes that if the JapaneseAmerican troubles are solved, it might open the way to a broader solution of the world conflict.