ANTN-COMINTERN PACT

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20726, 9 February 1939, Page 9

ANTN-COMINTERN PACT

JAPAN’S ATTITUDE OPPOSED TO EXTENSION (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlgnt) LONDON, Feb. 7 The Tokio correspondent of the Times says that Japan is not likely to welcome the proposals for expanding the anti-Comintern pact into a military alliance. When the pact was concluded, Japan declared she had no intention of becoming involved in Europe's ideological quarrels. That intention has not been lessened by events ilkg the Italian colonial claims, which tend to be a sharp confrontation of antiComintern countries and democracies. An agreement enabling adherents to support each other when necessary or opportune suits Japan better than an alliance, which would attach her to the chariot wheels of ideological allies. The hope of restoring good relations with England and America has not been abandoned and influential circles oppose irrevocably closing the door to this It is realised that an alliance with lhe totalitarian States would he poor compensation for the hostility of naval Powers. Possibly the initiative for strengthening the anti-Comintern pact came from Europe but Prince Konoye, in a speech before the resignation of Hachiro Arita last month, favoured strengthening it