PACIFIC PROBLEMS

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21584, 21 November 1941, Page 6

PACIFIC PROBLEMS

AMERICA’S PROGRAMME DEMANDS ON JAPAN TO LEAVE THE AXIS (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Nov. 20 It is reliably reported, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Herald-Tribune, that the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, presented the following programme to the Japanese envoy, Mr Kurusu, as the basis for a general settlement ol Pacific problems: — (1) Japan to leave the Axis. (2) Japan to renounce further aggression. (3) Japan to withdraw her army fiom China and Indo-China. (4) Japan to permit equal trading rights for all nations in the Pacific. Mr Kurusu is still awaiting instructions from Tokio. The Washington correspondent of ihe New York Times says the conversations had proceeded to a point where the Japanese Ambassador to the United States, Admiral Nomura, and Mr Kurusu had to refer questions to their Government for instructions. While details are closely guarded, the picture is one of delicate balance, with too much emphasis not warranted on the side of cither optimism or pessimism. There was no formal meeting between Mr Hull and Mr Kurusu yesterday. although there was a brief informal meeting last night. The British Minister, Sir Ronald Campbell, called on Mr Hull last night. Both the Australian and the Netherlands East Indies Ministers in Washington were received last night by the State Department. Japan Modifies Programme The most recent statements in the Japanese Diet by the Prime Minister, General Tojo, and the Foreign Minister, Mr Togo, suggest that Japan has modified her East Asian programme, says the Tokio correspondent of the New York Times, Mr Otto Tolischus. Mr Togo declared that the Government did not harbour territorial designs against nations in the Far East, and General Tojo significantly said that it would be going too far to say that Japan’s co-prosperity programme aimed at the immediate liberation of oppressed races. General Tojo’s statement, says Mr Tolischus, was tantamount to repudiation of the extremists’ demands that Japan should liberate East Asia from- the white man and evict the foreign barbarians. Japanese newspapers today adopted a more conciliatory attitude toward the United States, but the Japan Times-Advertiser referred to the arrival of Canadian troops at Hongkong as one more instance of unwarranted provocation in the Far East. The defence of Hongkong was impracticable in such an isolated position, added the Times-Advertiser. It was not made any more definite by ihe arrival of further battalions. A better move all round would be the withdrawal of the British forces and greater trust in Japan’s assertions that her aims in the Pacific were peaceful co-operation. Sensation in Japan The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press says publication of a speech made in the Diet by a member, Mr Miyazawa, was banned today. This created a sensation. No hint of the nature of the speech was permitted to reach the public, but it was declared to be “improper for this session.” Mr Miyazawa resigned following his appearance before the disciplinary committee of the House. It is believed that 19 mefnbers have resigned from the Throne Rule Assistance group in sympathy with Mr Miyazawa. Japanese newspaper Yomiuri explains today that while the resolution passed by the Diet this week seemed somewhat violently worded, it was not necessarily violent. Battleships Launched The destroyer Farenholt was launched today. The Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Knox, announced that three others will be launched on Saturday, all being five months ahead of schedule. The battleship Indiana, third of the Washington class of six 35,000tonners, will be launched on Friday, bringing the total launchings so far this year to three battleships, 18 destroyers and 13 submarines. Attitude of Britain Britain is content to leave the discussions between America and Japan in America’s hands, says the diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. Japan has done her utmost to persuade Britain that she is so deeply involved that British diplomats should take part in the discussions, but London thinks there is much wisdom in the adage that too many cooks spoil the broth. Britain will be four-square behind America whatever the decision. UPRISING PREDICTED JAPANESE IN CHINA ANTI-WAR ORGANISATION (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Nov. 21. 3.15 p.m.) CHUNGKING. Nov. 20 The Chinese Army spokesman asserted that intelligence reports disclosed growing disaffection among the Japanese troops in China. He predicted that a general uprising is certain if the war continues. The first known Japanese anti-war organisation has been formed at Suhsicn. in the Anhwei Province. The leader of the organisation, Nishibashi, has been arrested. The spokesman said a recent revision of the conscription regulations has resulted in the conscription of 400.000 Japanese and 260.000 Koreans into the army. He added that the latest reports indicated that at least 100.000 Japanese are in Southern Indo-China. many of them along the Thailand border. The Hanoi Government has officially denied reports from Shanghai that Japan has demanded facilities for | 50,000 more troops in Indo-China. | Such a demand would exceed the Franco-Japanese agreement, hence it would have to be taken up between ' Vichy and Tokio.