NOT SURPRISED

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

NOT SURPRISED

COMMENT IN LONDON

JAPAN’S LITTLE GAIN

THREAT TO AMERICA (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 28, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 27 The announcement by the German radio that a military pact has been signed by Germany, Italy and Japan has caused little surprise in London, in view of the flood of propaganda from Germany and as usual from the faithfully echoing Italian sources which preceded it. No official comment is offered in London on the pact. The authorities here are dependent for information regarding the pact on the public pronouncements from Berlin, although the reports of the sanctioning of tne alliance by the Emperor of Japan had prepared the way for such announcement. Although authoritative British comment for the present is withheld it is noted that the ecstatic effusion with which Berlin has greeted the development is in marked contrast with the reserved comment from Japan. While there is no inclination here to assume that this apparent lack of enthusiasm denotes coolness in Japan toward the new move, unofficial observers of the general situation in London find it difficult to discover what Japan may expect to get out of the agreement. It is, in their view, equally obscure what raw materials or other assistance can be contributed by Germany or Italy, who are now putting forward their maximum effort against the British Empire. In reference to the Japanese “new order for Asia” appears purely academic. There is, indeed, no sign that Japan needs German or Italian assistance in promoting the plans which she has conceived independently. Neither Germany nor Italy, in fact, is in a position to make any contribution whatever. The agreement, in short, appears designed to have the maximum propaganda, if not material, value for Germany and Italy, but its utility to Japan is extremely doubtful, and commentators here find it difficult to assist the conclusion that Japan has been hurried into an arrangement which can bring her only embarrassment on undertakings which she will have to carry on alone. Aimed at United States It is noted that Article 3 of the agreement provides that Germany, Italy and Japan agree to collaborate on all questions and aid each other by all economic and military means if one of the three signatories is attacked by a nation not taking part in the war—a provision designed presumably to intimidate the United States, as it is difficult to suggest any other Power to which it could possibly refer. There is a natural inclination on the part of the press to read this article in relation to recent moves at Washington, and notably last night’s announcement that an embargo has been placed from October 15 on the export of iron and steel scrap to all nations save those of .the Western Hemisphere and Britain. This announcement was accompanied by the news that the United States Metal Reserve Company had agreed to buy £7,500,000 worth of Tungsten from China and that the i Export Bank, another official institu- ' tion, is to lend China £6,250,000 ! Washington messages add that 1 President Roosevelt is deeply pre-

occupied with the Far Eastern problem. The Daily Mail says that Hitler has promised to share the spoils because he is not sure that he is able to alohe break the British Empire. Hitler is trying to spread the war. Before another year the greater part of the world may be aflame.

The reaction of the average man-in-the-street in Shanghai, on hearing the terms of the pact was that it was not as bad as was expected. The < people expected something far more : far-reaching, and it is that the pact is a defensive rather than an offensive alliance. There is ; a general feeling of relief. Reports circulating in Tokio, how-

ever, say the pact contains secret clauses, presumably describing the conditions under which one or all of the signatories will wage war against another Power, such as the United States. No Substantial Change Mr Cordell Hull said the new Axis alliance “makes it clear for all that the relationship which has long existed. is in effect.” The United States has known for some time that an alliance was being negotiated and that fact was fully taken into account by the United States in the determination of its policies. The reported agreement does not substantially alter the situation which has existed for several years.” Dutch Indies Prepared ! Mr Paul Patterson, publisher of the Baltimore Sun, who has arrived at Honolulu after a tour of the Far East and the Antipodes said that he found the Dutch East Indies fully prepared to meet any Japanese threat. He I believed that the Dutch air force ■ would be more than a match for the Japanese and added that the Dutch were building a great defence system throughout the Islands. He added that the United States should utilise Britain’s Pacific bases, particulaly Singapore. Other members of the party revealed that the seas around the Dutch East Indies were heavily mined and vast military preparations were proceeding.

The War Office's 51st casualty list gives the names of 133 men, including four officers and 38 rankers killed and one officer and 66 rankers wounded.