CRITICAL AS EVER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1941, Page 5

CRITICAL AS EVER

FAR EASTERN SITUATION President Roosevelt Back in Washington NO REPLY YET RECEIVED FROM JAPAN TO AMERICAN NOTE NOMURA SEES NEED OF WISE STATESMANSHIP LONDON, December 1. President Roosevelt returned to Washington this afternoon and had an immediate conference with the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, on the situation in the Far East, which remains critical. Although the Japanese envoys, Mr Kurusu and Admiral Nomura, saw Mr Hull today, they delivered no reply to the American Note of last week, which stated the American position. It is learned that today’s talk dealt only with subordinate questions. In reply to a question whether negotiations had been resumed, Mr Kurusu said they had never been broken off. Admiral Nomura said: “I believe there must be wise states- . manship to save the situation.” In Tokio the Japanese Cabinet held a special meeting this morning and it is reported that it decided to make redoubled efforts to induce the United States to reconsider its standpoint. It was announced later that the Japanese Cabinet had de- ( cided to continue the talks to the last moment. In the Pacific British and American bases are ready for any eventuality. In Australia, the Federal Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, said: “Japan alone can now decide the vital issue—war or no war.”