FRIENDLY TALK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 November 1941, Page 5

FRIENDLY TALK

ROOSEVELT & JAPANESE ENVOYS NO LIGHT ON COURSE OF NEGOTIATIONS. DEVELOPMENTS IN INDO-CHINA. LONDON, November 27. A message from AV ashington states that the Japanese envoys, Air Knrnsn and Admiral Nomura, conferred with President Roosevelt and Air Cordell Hull (Secretary for Slate) for three-quarters of an hour. After the conference, Air Kurusu said he had had a very friendly conversation with the President.

From Washington it is reported that the Japanese have landed strong forces in Indo-China in the past week. It is stated that a large number of Japanese troops have landed at Saigon and that large supplies of war material have reached the country. AMERICAN TERMS HANDED TO JAPANESE. BELIEVED TO BE BASED ON NON-AGGRESSION. NEW YORK, November 26. The Japanese envoys, Mr Kurusu and Admiral Nomura, conferred with the Secretary of State, Mr Hull, for one hour and 15 minutes in Washington today. They emerged smiling but silent. Mr Hull handed to the Japanese a document which is believed to represent the United States attitude toward a

peaceful settlement of Pacific problems.

The Washington bureau of the Associated Press describes the document as a “blueprint for peace in the Pacific, based on the doctrine of non-aggres-sion which Mr Hull has preached for years.” Its reception is regarded as uncertain.

It is understood that the United States has offered Japan a formula based on Mr Hull's declaration of principles in 1937, involving: First, maintenance of peace; secondly, abstinence from the use of force; thirdly, adjustment of international problems by peaceful negotiation and agreement. According to the Washington correspondent of the United Press authoritative sources say that the United States favours a three-month breathing space in relations with Japan. The temporary agreement proposed would provide for limited relaxation of the economic blockade against Japan provided Japan is willing to give a pledge that she will make no further aggressive moves either southward or against Russia. Japan would also require to rearrange her troop dispositions so that they could not threaten the Burma Road for the duration of the agreement.

Last week the Japanese envoys asked for a fuller restoration of trading facilities and offered fewer guarantees than the United States now asks for. The proposed temporary agreement is understood to include provision for the carrying on of discussions aimed at a more permanent adjustment.

HOPE OF AGREEMENT EXPRESSED BY AUSTRALIAN MINISTER. SOLIDARITY OF DEMOCRATIC POWERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) CANBERRA, November 27. In a speech on the international situation in the House of Representatives today the Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Evatt, declared that Australia aimed to preserve peace in the Pacific if it could be achieved without sacrifice of principle, without prejudice to national security and without endangering the solidarity of the democratic Powers.

Dr. Evatt said he saw no reason why it should be impossible for Japan to withdraw her forces from Indo? China and render it possible to ease the present economic restrictions. But all this would be of no avail if aggression in one quarter were to be succeeded by aggression elsewhere. Britain could not look on with equanimity if Japanese forces attacked Russia or- if pressure against China were redoubled.

The Minister revealed that in the diplomatic sphere the Commonwealth Government first is considering the dispatch of a small delegation to Russia; secondly, in conferring full consular rank on its representative at Dilli, Portuguese Timor; thirdly has reached an agreement in principle with the Netherlands Government which will give Australia adequate representation in the Netherlands East Indies, and also lead to the appointment of a Dutch Minister to Canberra; fourthly, is considering the appointment of a Consul-General to the Argentine.

Referring to the talks between America and Japan, Dr. Evatt said the Australian Government was content to allow the leadership and initiative in these discussions to be retained by the United States. He hoped the talks would result in agreement and that a new chapter would commence in the relationship between the leading Pacific Powers.

He expressed surprise that while the British Empire was the ally of Russia in the fight against Germany it was still at peace with Germany’s three eager satellites and accomplices in the struggle against Russia—Finland, Hungary and Rumania. He expressed the opinion that strong and decisive action against these countries was the only common sense method of preventing deterioration in diplomatic and political relations.