10 YEARS’ PACT SIGNED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21230, 28 September 1940, Page 9

10 YEARS’ PACT SIGNED

GERMANY, ITALY AND JAPAN RIBBENTROP’S BOASTFUL ASSERTIONS “ MOST POWERFUL POWERS IN THE WORLD ” BRITAIN ABUSED BLOC OF COMMON INTERESTS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 28, 9 a.m.) t LONDON, Sept. 27 The German radio this morning announced that Germany, Italy and Japan had signed a 10-year military, political and economic pact. Japan recognises the leadership of Germany and Italy in Europe, while Germany and Italy recognise Japanese leadership in East Asia. The contracting parties agree to assist each other in the event of one being attacked by a Power not at present involved in the European or the Chinese conflict. Technical commissions to implement the pact are to meet immediately. The pact does not affect the political status at present between the three contracting Powers and the Soviet. Earlier messages said it was authoritatively stated from Tokio that the Emperor of Japan had sanctioned the alliance with Italy and Germany, although the pact would not be signed until it had been ratified by the Privy Council. It is understood that Hitler’s personal representative in Japan, Herr Sthamer, has assured the Japanese that the Russo-German pact is working well and on these grounds he has urged Japan to turn toward Russia. Diplomatic circles in Tokio believe that the present Japanese Government is prepared to defy Great Britain and the United States, owing to promises of German support. The German radio, in announcing that a ten-year pact between Italy, Japan and Germany has been signed, said Hitler, Ciano and Ribbentrop and the Japanese Ambassador, Kurusu, attended the signing. The three last-named read the agreement aloud in their respective languages. Ribbentrop declared: “The pact is a military alliance between the three most powerful Powers in the world. Anyone disturbing the world’s peace will feel the might of 250,000,000 people. After Germany and Italy had succeeded in the partial restoration of their rights warmongers from a Jewish capitalistic democracy forced war on Germany. This Power is now collapsing.

“The struggle we are now waging is not directed against any people, but specifically against the existence of an international plot. The pact proclaims Italian, German and Japanese collaboration. It is the creation of a bloc of common interests.

“The agreement alters nothing in the political status existing between each and the Soviet. The pact will be enforced from September 27.

After-war Re-distribution Ribbentrop continued: “ Any country joining the alliance will have voice in the re-distribution of territory after the war.” Ciano and Kurusu made short | speeches welcoming the alliance, which is semi-officialy interpreted in Berlin to mean that the Axis Powers and Japan have agreed to call a halt in all plans to extend or prolong the war. “ Thus the three Powers have contributed to world peace and the great cause of establishing a just permanent and peaceful order.” It is authoritatively stated in Rome that the alliance is intended to forestall the entry of United States into the war. It is authoritatively stated in Shanghai that the pact is a four-way defensive alliance (apparently including Spain), with economic sidelights, and will be effective in the event of American participation in the European war or an AngloAmerican front in the Orient. It envisages a Spanish political offensive in South America in co-oper-ation with German Fifth Columnists, in an effort to divert the United States from the Orient. Effect on United States Shanghai authorities regard the alliance as an Axis victory, in the sense that Japan's fleet can now be employed to immobilise the United States Navy in the Pacific, and possibly even more involve the United States in a Pacific war, thus impeding American activities to aid Britain. The first reaction in Washington is to intensify the defences, especially a two-ocean navy, and strengthen the outlying defences in the Pacific and the Atlantic. Threats By Japanese The Japanese Foreign Office has announced that the Emperor, Hirohito, granted a re-script permitting the signature of the alliance in order that ‘‘peace might be restored as soon as possible.” A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are not changing our policy toward the United States and we are not abandoning our hope of readjusting our relations with the United States.” A defiant threat is launched by the extremist newspaper, Kokumin Shimbun today in an outburst against Britain and America, occasioned by America's loan to China and the embargo on scrap metal. The paper said that if the British and Americans continued their unprovoked anti-Japanese stand they would get a telling blow. Major Struggle Developing Under a heading. “Fight for Supremacy in Pacific." the newspaper Miyako Shimbun says that Indo-China is only a minor angle in a major struggle now developing between America and Japan in which Britain is apparently participating. The comparatively conservative newspaper Asahi declares that it now seems inevitable that

a clash will occur between Japan and the United States.

“We rather welcome the United States’ decision to act in a decisive manner instead of persecuting Japan by slow means,” it adds. Washington Reaction Most observers in Washington doubt that the pact will influence Britain or the United States and also doubt that the pact will have any immediate physical results, since the three Powers are fully occupied already. Because of the limited achievements which the pact could produce immediately, some believe it was designed partly to bolster up the morale of the three countries, where quick victories were anticipated but have not materialised. Meanwhile many observers expressed the opinion that the ultimate most important result might be the encirclement of Russia leading the Soviet to seriously and promptly consider closer association with Britain and the United States. Message From Mussolini Mussolini, in telegraphing Prince Konoye, said: “The Italians welcome the pact associating the energies of our countries to the great task of European and Asiatic reconstruction. Italy has long followed with unchanged sympathy the developments of Japanese policy and such high aims logically culminate in today’s events.” King Victor Emmanuel and Count Ciano sent similar messages to the Mikado and Mr Matsuoka, Japanese foreign Minister. The following Cabinet appointments are announced from Tokio:— Minister of Overseas Territory, Mr Kyoshi Akita, who is a former speaker of the Lower House; Welfare Minister. Mr Tsuneo Kanemitsui, a former vice-Speaker: Minister of Railways, Mr Gotaro Ogawa, a former Commerce Minister.

The Bahamas Red Cross Association has cabled £ISOO to the Lord Mayor’s fund for the relief of London air raid victims, bringing the total of its contribution to £2OOO.

J By special arrangement* neuter’s World i <>r inloi-niatiun, is used lu the compilation ui‘ the overseas Intelligence published in tills issue, and all rights therein In AusI ti alia and New Zealand are reserved, such 1 of the cable news in this issue as is su headed has appeared in the Times and Is so sent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that the opinion is not that of the Times uules» it lo expressly stated to be so.