INTERNED BY SOVIET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 April 1942, Page 3

INTERNED BY SOVIET

AMERICAN ARMY AIRMEN ■PLANE FORCED DOWN. AFTER ATTACK GN JAPAN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, April.2s. The Moscow radio yesterday stated: “On April 18 -an American military plane was forced to land in Soviet territory, in the Far East. The crew cf the plane declared that they took part in an attack by American planes against Japanese territory. In accordance with international law the crew were interned.”

The United States Army and Navy Departments have declined to comment on the landing of American bombers. The Secretary of State, Mr Hull, told the Press when asked about the internment of American airmen that reports indicated that the incident was being dealt with in accordance with international law. Asked whether this applied, seeing that Russia is a co-bellig-erent of the United States as a member of the United Nations, Mr Hull drew the attention of the questioner to the non-aggression agreement between Russia and Japan. Mr Hull added that Russia’s position might be determined by agreement. At President Roosevelt’s Press conference in Washington yesterday, an allusion was made to the Japanese bombers’ search over eastern China for bases which might have been used in the American bombers’ attack on Japan. The President was asked whether there was any news of Japanese raids from Shangri-La (a fictitious place in Thibet, made famous in a film “Lost Horizon” of several years ago).. The President replied banteringly, “None at all,” but he admitted receiving official notification of the internment (of a plane in Russia and said, “Apparently it was one which came from Shangri-La and did not get back, going to Russia instead.” Asked whether the interned plane would become lend-lease, Mr Roosevelt laughed and said he had no information on the matter except the official notification from Moscow.

- The Tokio radio today reported that the newspaper “Asahi,” in a review of Russian-Japanese relations, said there was no reason for Japan and Russia to quarrel, and it hoped that their relations would be strengthened through Russia’s better understanding of the greater East Asia war. ' The “Nichi Nichi” said: “Britain and the United States have little chance to pit Russia against Japan,” and it urged the Kremlin to send back to Tokio its Ambassador, M. Smetanin, who is now on leave.