RISE FROM ZERO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1941, Page 6

RISE FROM ZERO

HOPES OF ( A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT BUT AMERICAN ATTITUDE CALLED BIGOTED. BY CONTROLLED JAPANESE PRESS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.0 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 1. The “New York Times” Tokio correspondent, Mr O. Tolischus, says that hopes of a peaceful settlement, which the vehement pronouncements of--the Premier, General Tojo, and- other leaders had reduced almost to zero, took a new lease of life and the stock market soared, when the decision to continue negotiations was taken, despite a wide divergence between the principle of “Asia for Asiatics under Japan’s leadership,” so solemnly expounded at mass meetings yesterday, and the American principles of nonaggression and the open door, contained in the American proposals, which the Foreign Minister Mr Togo characterised as: “Fanciful, unrealistic and regrettable.” However, the Press declares that Japan will redouble her sublime efforts for peace, by attempting to induce the United States to reconsider what the “Asahi Shimbun” calls its bigoted attitude. According to the “Yomiuri Shimbun,” the Premier, General Tojo, after surveying the American proposals from all angles, held several conferences. All the quarters concerned, presumably including the Army and Navy, as a result of these "Consultations, arrived at the conclusion that, though the gap is great, negotiations should continue and took all necessary measures to that end. The “Yomiuri ’ remarked: “Thus our attitude at the present stage of the negotiations is extremely fair. We are not abandoning hope to the last,” but the “Asahi” de-, dared: “There is no hope of improvement in American-Japanese negotiations unless the United States reconsiders its attitude of adhering to fanciful principles, trampling under foot Japan’s position and prestige and refusing to recognise the realities of East Asia. The key to the success of thse negotiations or otherwise lies solely in America’s attitude.”

NOMURA GRAVE ! ON LEAVING CONFERENCE WITH MR HULL. REPLY TO AMERICAN NOTE EXPECTED SOON. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, December 1. State Department officials said the conversations of Mr Kurusu and Admiral Nomura with Mr Cordell Hull today concerned only subordinate phases. Admiral Nomura looked grave when emerging from Mr Hull’s office. A reporter asked whether there was still a wide gap between the American and Japanese positions and Admiral Nomura replied: “I believe there must be wise statesmanship to save the situation.” When asked whether he planned to see Mr Hull again', Mr Kurusu said. “Yes, we are instructed to that effect by our Government.” Later State Department officials said that the Japanese reply to Mr Hull’s document had not yet been received, but it was expected soon.