PACIFIC DEFENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21209, 4 September 1940, Page 9

PACIFIC DEFENCE

CONCERN IN JAPAN

NEW ZEALAND BASES USE BY UNITED STATES PEACE & UNDERSTANDING (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Sept. 3 A suggestion that the United States should use New Zealand harbours and aerodromes is supported by the New York Sun. The paper says: “ Closer relations between New Zealand and the United States would not conflict with the Dominion’s status as a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. “ The United States’ first real objective in the Pacific is a genuine pact of peace and understanding with the British Empire in the south.” The newspaper also expresses the hope that New Zealand will emulate Australia by appointing a Minister to the United States. Use of Singapore Base A cablegram from Singapore says that, on arrival there from Austra’ia, Mr Roy W. Howard, leader of the party of American journalists who flew to New Zealand by Clipper, said: “ There is a general realisation that the Singapore naval base would probably be the base for the American Fleet should anything happen out this way to make American participation in the war certain.” The former Chief of the United States Naval Staff, Rear-Admiral Stirling, urges the United States to obtain Pacific bases from Britain. “ Britain has offered island bases in the Atlantic,” he said. “We might consider obtaining island bases in the Pacific to give mobility to our forces in the event of the United States being drawn into war in the Far East. 44 Our vital interests, as ever, will be centred in the Pacific. The Pacific especially its eastern part, will be the happy hunting-ground of aeroplanes in the next war. 44 The vast areas of islands owned by Britain and Holland are most important as air bases to enable squadrons of our seaplanes either to accompany the fleet or to fly to the Orient to take part in a naval war. 44 If we obtained such bases there would be another air route to Manila free from Japanese control. The first air base on the route would be Canton Island, then Pago Pago, then an island in the New Hebrides, on to New Guinea, and thence to Manila.”

REVOLT IN INDO-CHINA VIGILANCE NOT RELAXED MUST EXTEND VISION (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) TOKIO, Sept. 3 The Tokio newspaper Asahi Shimbun says in an editorial that, while particulars are not known of the jeported revolt in Indo-China, if the insurgents have really rallied to General de Gaulle Japan cannot but be concerned, because General de Gaulle is a mere puppet of the British Government. Regarding New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, the paper says Japan will not relax her vigilance over them. “Whenever the increasing performance of aircraft is considered,” it adds, “Japan must extend her vision farther and farther in the Pacific.” The Hongkong correspondent of the Asahi Shimbun says the Vichy Government is making desperate efforts to retain control of IndoChina, and has telegraphed to the naval and military commanders urging their loyalty against the separatists. The correspondent adds that the Vichy Ministry for the Colonies has requested the German and Italian Armistice Commissions to act to assure French control. Warships Block Port In another message, the same Japanese corespondent says French naval units are blocking the port of Haiphong against foreign warships. The Chinese Central News Agency in Chungking has reported that the Chinese forces in Kwangsi are driving toward Lungchow, from which the Japanese are withdrawing. The Chinese aim to secure a considerable section of the border between Kwangsi and Indo-China in order to frustrate Japanese attacks and eventually to re-open the munitions line to Haiphong. The special Japanese envoy to the Dutch East Indies, Mr Kobayashi, before sailing for Batavia said: “I intend to bring to realisation the task imposed on Japan, namely, the assumption of leadership in a chain of mutual prosperity in East Asia. I must conduct negotiations in the Dutch East Indies rapidly and resolutely in accord with our national policies.” Japanese Diplomats Resign The Japanese Foreign Office has announced the voluntary resignations of the diplomat Sotomatsu Kato, who recently visited South America; the Minister to Thailand, Kurmatsu Murai; and the Minister to Chile, Tetsuichiro Miyake.

The newspaper Asahi Shimbun says this is interpreted as the second step in the Foreign Office renovation.