HAILED IN U.S.A.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 December 1943, Page 3

HAILED IN U.S.A.

AS TURNING POINT IN WAR DECISION REGARDING JAPAN. QUESTIONS OF POST-WAR CONTROL. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) NEW YORK, December 2. The three-Power conference, which has resulted in what might be termed a Pacific Charter, has confirmed the determination to prevent Japan building up her conquered empire while Germany’s destruction is accomplished, says the “New York Times.” The Cairo pledge to reduce the Japanese to an unmenacing status was formulated at a series of talks in which participated virtually every military luminary of the three Powers, except General MacArthur, who was represented by General Sutherland. The Washington correspondent of the Associated Press says the presence of every major Allied commander now active against the Japanese except General MacArthur recalled the latter’s cryptic statement in September: “However subordinate my role, I hope to play it manfully.” At the same time, it is pointed out that both General MacArthur and Admiral Mimitz are in the midst of big campaigns which require their presence in the Pacific. According to the 'Washington correspondent of the United Press, increased pressure against the Japanese by land, sea and air, is interpreted to mean, first, joint Anglo-American naval operations in the Indian and Pacific Oceans; secondly, a land attack through Burma, Malaya. China, and the Pacific islands; and thirdly, air assaults from all directions, including the Aleutians.

The Cairo announcement failed to clear up two important questions—Who will control the mandated islands after the war, and who will get Hong Kong, says the New York “Herald-Tribune’s” Washington correspondent. The answers are believed to be, first, the United States is expected to receive full control of the mandated islands; however, they might be placed under ‘the joint control of the Big Four; secondly, President Chiang Kai-shek is understood to have agreed to allow Hong Kong to revert to the British in spite of the agitation of some Chinese for ousting the British. The conference is hailed in Washington as a turning-point in the war, says the “New York Times” correspondent in the capital. These points arc regarded as of special significance. First, the agreement to strip the Japanese Empire to its original status before the Sino-Japanese war of 1895 is a statement of the Pacific war aims far exceeding unconditional surrender. Secondly, stripping the Japanese Empire which means taking the southern tip of Manchuria, with the warm-water ports of Dairen and Port Arthur which were formerly Russian, is regarded as an important preparatory step for the meeting with Premier Stalin and a bid for Russian military support against Japan inasmuch as Britain, America and China could offer both ports as an inducement for Russian aid. Thirdly, the morale in all the Japanese occupied areas will be immensely lifted.

Fourthly, the promise of Korean independence presages possible military activity in that “stepping-stone area, especially if Russia joins the Pacific coalition. Some believe Korea may become an important buffer state in the Orient, backed up by the Big Four.