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JAPAN APPEARS TO BE TAKING FATAL STEP!
TO WAR
Considerable Naval Forces
Moving on Thailand
USE OF INDO CHINA AS BASE
FOR OPERATIONS
LONDON, SUNDAY.-INDICATIONS POINT TO JAPAN TAKING THE FATAL STEP TO
Vf AR, BY STRIKING AT A WEAK NEIGHBOR AND USING INDO-CHINA AS A BASE FOR
OPERATIONS, PROVING BY HER ACTION THAT HER REPLY TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
W AS A COMPLETE LIE.
THE AUTHORITIES AT SINGAPORE HAVE MADE EVERY POSSIBLE PREPARATION
DURING THE PAST WEEK LEST JAPAN SHOULD DECIDE TO ATTEMPT TO ATTACK
MÍALA YA. NOW, IF INTERPRETATION OF TRANSPORT MOVEMENTS IS CORRECT,
MALAYA WILL BE SPARED AND THAILAND HAS BECOME ANOTHER VICTIM OF AG
GRESSION.
lt was officially stated in Singapore this morning that Japanese naval units, including
ciruisers, had been sighted by our aircraft operating from Malaya. The warships were steam
ily g in a north-westerly direction after rounding Point Cambodia, thc most southerly point in
Ficnch Indo-China.
Air reconnaissance in the south China Sea, which has been going on for several days, con
firms previous reports of considerable shipping activity and movement of naval vessels around
Plaint Cambodia. The reconnaissance was carried out by Catalina flying boats of the R.A.F.
and Hudsons of the R.A.A.F., and contact was made at a distance of more than 300 miles.
Washington estimates that Japan has 125,000 troops in Indo-China-82,000 in the south,
255,000 in the north and 18,000 on board transports in Cam Ranh Bay.
Thc State Department at Washington announced to-day that President Roosevelt had sent
a message to thc Japanese Emperor. It did not disclose the contents, but authoritative quar
ters describe it as an appeal to thc Emperor, over thc heads of his Cabinet, to prevent a general
Fe.r Eastern explosion.
BRITISH & U.S. ACTION NOT YET CLEARj
Tli«! British Intelligence) Scrvico hi
liecn well informed of Japan's nctioi
for months past, and an attack o
Tbuilîiml would not find the servil
chiefs unprepared, though what actio
Britni; a and tho United States propot
to taVo is not yet clear. If they di
cude ho go to tho assistance of Tlinilaw
plans already exist which can bo pi;
into affect ut a moment's notice. Br
Iain's Eastern FIcot also is ready fe
immediate action.
The» Anny spokesman at Singapor
told -correspondents this week tho
Japait hud a division in' Indo-Chini
which; had been trained in landing froi
tho sf a, while thoro wore largo .nun:
hers a f landing craft in the south o
lndo-Çhina.
TENSION IN TIENTSIN
TliCj British volunteers called up fp
duty ¡nt Tientsin (China) aro guarding
strategic points and public buildings
«?hilo-tbe-concession gates havo ijèci
closed.. It is believed tho British nrj
doing their utmost to hold down tlii
tension ns much us possible und pro
vent ¡agitation and terrorism in .tl»
concession, in order lo prevent tin
Japanese from repeating the 103!
blockade, which radical members ol
the Japaneso Army have been threat
ening for tho past month.
Tho American Associated Press rep
rcsontntive at Tokio says the bij
shipping company, tho Nippon Yuser
Knisha, todny recalled its chief execu
tives from Singaporo and Bombay.
Certain attaches from tho Japnncsi
Embassy in Washington have been re
called for reasons which have not
been explained. Tho Tokio Informa
tion Board merely said they had been
transferred lo oilier , osts. Tho Ger
)miII nidio said Colonel Padnnimi and
Licut.-Coloncl Arium Uchidiij Jnpanesc
military attaches, had also been recall
ed from Washington.
PREPARING FOR WAR
TniiDcdinlo evacuation of all non-es
loutitt! civilians from Manila was re
quested to-day. Tho Commonwealth
Cabinet indicated that compulsory evac
uation might be ordered.
Ute Ministry of the Interior at
Bangkok (Thailand) Intimated to
day that plans had been completed
by the Government for tho trans
fer of tho capital from Bangkok
elsewhere in tho event of war
breaking out, The provisional ca
pital has not been revealed.
Tho Thailand Assembly has approved
of war oniergency measures. Tho
Bangkok radio to-day told tho popu
lucc what to do in tho event of un
outbreak of war. Tho Bangkok Pre
mier (Field-Marshal Songgrani) said
to-day that Thailand was ready to re
sist aggression from any quarter, but
lind concluded no secret pact. "I do
not sec whv anv foreign Power should
invade Thailand," ho said. Ho ex
plained that the Japan-Thailand amity
pact -was tantamount to ono of non
aggression, and so long as Britain and
Japan respected tho treaties, Thailand
mnst bo considered safe. Field-Mar
filial lionggram declared: "Of courso,
if wo' should be compelled to light, we
«»nil fight, and fight well, to the very
last."
REPLY TO PRESIDENT
.Tapa»'s reply (o President líoosc
vcll's query as tu lier troops in Indo
china, which was signed by the Japan
ese Ambassador to Washington (Ad
miral Nomura) stated:
"Chinese) troops recently have shown
frequent signs of movements along the
northern, frontier of French. Indo
china.
"Japaneso troops, with the object
mainly of taking precautionary mea
sures, have been reinforced to a cer
tain extent in northern Indo-China. As
a natural sequence, certain movements
havu boon made among troops stationed
in southern Indo-China. It seems that
an exaggerated report has been made
of these movements.
"It should bo added that no mea
sures havu been taken by tho Japan
ese-Government that in any way trans
gress the stipulations of thc protocol
ot.'the joint defence of Japan and
. Franco,"' ?
The Chungking official spokesman to
day described .Japan's reply to Presi
dent Roosevelt's interrogations us au
insult lo thu intelligence of tho Ame
rican people, and its publication was
another rudo setback to Japan's policy
of backstairs intrigue.
Thore has not yet been any reac
tion in Tokjo to tho announcement
that President Roosevelt has sent
a message to the Emperor of Ja
pan. In fact, the Japanese Infor
mation Board this morning stated
that it had no official information
of any such message.
Tho President's action came as a
completo surprise in Washington. The
last occasion on which ho mada a com
parable move was in 1037, after the
Japanese had sunk an American gun
boat.
lloro emergency measures havo been
taken in Burma. Undor a Govern
ment amendment made to-day, all able
bodied mon in Burma can be conscrip
ted to meet any actual or apprehended
attack.
A.B.C.D. PLANS
Iîear-Admiral Toshio Matsunnga,
Chief of tho Marine Department of
Japan Airways, to-day assured tho Jap
ancso people-through. "Yomiuri"- thur
they need not fear tho A.B.C.D. "en
circlement fronts," becauso "they aro
lacking suitablo air buses, effective
planes .md trained personnel."
Ho claimed that tho wholo air
strength of tho A.B.C.D. Powers in
tho Par East was 1000 planes, com
posed of 250 American and 400 British.
Tho rest wero mostly trainers.
Ho declared that most tynes wero old
or short-range planes unablo to bomb
Japan and get back to their base. Ho
added that for these reasons Japan
could piuco full confidence in her pre
pirations.
Tho Tokio "Hochi" Baid to-day that
Russia apparently had docided to
chango from a neutrality policy in the
Far East to pro-United Statos, and to I
strengthen hor formidable military
forces in Siberia, because of develop-!
ments in tho Japanese-American rela
tions, j
Tho Tokio press reflects deep pessi
mism over tho Washington develop
ments, and renews its attacks upon j
the United States. It oxprcsscs doubts j
that Mr. Kurusu and Admiral Nomu
ra's tulles will provo productive. Prac
tically nil tho newspapers described
tho situation us increasingly gravo.
Nevertheless, their doflant attitudo is
maintained. This is typified by "Yo
miuri," which says: "Japan is ready
to faco any dovelopmonts, and will not
bo moved in tho least by mero empty
intimidation strategy."
Characteristically 'tho press choruses
tho curiously-inverted viewpoint that
tho United Stntos sought to prolong
the negotiations in order to gain time
while tho Par Eastern situation turned
in her favor.
THE "NEW ORDER"
"Wo Japanese are tensoly watching
to seo whother President Hoosevolt and
Mr. Churchill will commit tho epochal
crime of further extonding tho world
upheaval," said Gonoral Suzuki, pre
sident of the Cabinet Planning Board,
addressing a meeting of tho East Asia
Economic Council.
"Jupancso patience would no longer
bo necessary in tho event of countries
hostilo to peace in East Asia, countries
whoso identities aro now absolutely
clear, attempting to continue to in
crease disturbances in tho Far East,"
ho said.
Tho East Asia Economic Council was
attended by moro than 300 business mon
and officials from Japan, Munchnkno,
China and Mongolia, summoned to con
sider "sclf-snllicioncy measures against
encirclement."
Tho mooting regarded as of tho
greatest importance also au address
by the Foreign Minister (Mr. Togo).
Subsequently thc meeting resolved
that Japan would repulso all efforts to
halt tho construction of a "now order"
in East Asia, "regardless of how in
tensely hostilo Powers might, attempt,
to interiore." I
Proposals to appoint n Japaii-Ameri-|
) can commission to iron out thc Pacific
deadlock were supported in important
civilian circles to-day. Count Yantaro
lvaneko, a Privy Counsellor and veteran
student of United States affairs, sug
gested to political and diplomatic cir
cles that both nations meet cither in
Japan or tho United States.
"MORAL DEFENSIVE"
Tho Tokio "Times-Advertisor,"
charging Mr. Hull with having at
tomntsd to "put Japan on the moral
defensive in the Pacific," said: "If
this is not an "unstatesmanliko effort
to terminate tho Washington negotia
tions, it will leave that impression
amoiig many Americans us well as
Japanese." It said American and
British people should uso thoir influ
ence on Mr. Hull "to mako some prac
tical effort to reach agreement with
Japan, who is seriously trying to avoid
war." -¿
Tho Japanese Emperor paid -an un
usual visit to tho Army section of
.Importal Headquarters, where ho/gran
ted audience to General Sugiyainn.
Chief of the General Staff, and all
oflicers on headquarters duty. The
Primo Minister (General Tojo) also
attended." General Sugiyama repor
ted to tho Emperor on Army mat
ters.
Tho liner Asama Maru has been
ordered to Singapore and Borneo to
evacuate Japaneso nationals. The
Domoi Agoucy reports that the Bri
tish Legation at Shanghai bas advised
all Britishers, including Indians, to
evacuate Thailand immediately.
Buring tho past few months 5000
Japanese, including women and child
ren, havo left tho Netherlands East
Indies. Only 2000 remain.
JAPANESE BOAST
The Japanese Army spokesman (Col
onel Akiyama) said yesterday the
army wus now so strong that it was
able to launch a campaign iu any
direction without withdrawing from
tho China front. Because of lack of
artillery and tanks, China would
never bo a bio to take tho offensive,
even if Japan became involved in war
with the A.B.C.D. Powers.
Colonel Akiyama declared that Bri
tish and American mechanised units
would find it impossible to operate
in Chinn, and oven if they wore able
to land British and American forces '
could not force Japan to withdraw.
At Singapore Army, Navy and
Air Force preparations have been
further advanced, and all troops
- now stand in fullest readiness for
any eventuality.
An official statement says: "Fur
ther precautionary defensive measures
taken in Malaya aro thoso which nor
mally would take place on completion
of tho mobilisation of volunteers,
which began on Deccmbor 1. All troops
have been recalled to barracks mid
stations."
The A.I.F. in Malaya is moving to
advanced positions, and will remain
there until any aggressive stops arc
taken or until tho position has been
clarified. British units ulso aro" on
tho qui vivo to meet any threat to
Malaya.
Singapore's second successive week
ond alarm was received calmly, al
though tho absonco of troops from the
stroets and their usual haunts was
noticeable. Military polico stood at
the entrances to tho theatres, nnd
told members of tho H.A.F. and
B.A.A.F. to roturn to thoir stations,
while tho usual notices woro displayed
prominently throughout tho city. To
calling tho men. Tho hotel lobbies
carried notices telling unval mon to
return immediately to their ships and
establishments.
Plans havo been completed for tho
biggest march past of troops on Wed
nesday over soon in Singapore. All
branches of tho sorvicos will take
part iu tho procession,' which will bo
threo miles along, . and tako an hour
to pjiss. Detachments of English
and Scottish infantry will load, fol
lowed by tho A.I.F., Indians, British
and Malay sappers and gunners, the
Straits Settlement Volunteer Forco,
and thon British, Eurasian and Chin
ese detachments, tho B.A.M.C., Johoro
military forces, and thon finally n
long array of bren gun carriers, arm
ored cars, anti-aircraft guns, artillery,
searchlights, etc.
Tho object of tho march is to show
tho various types of arms now em
ployed in tho defence of Malaya, and
givo some idea of tho great military
strongtli now concentrated in tho fort
ress mid its environs.
Tho Governor issued nn order for
bidding non-British subjects to leave
Mainya without special permission.
Soon ufforwards Japnnç.so who had
already boarded- a. steamer owned by
¡i Thiii company, and travelling to
Bangkok, wcro ordered to return to
tho shore. Their baggago also was
removed from tho ship.
It is believed hero tho order was
designed to prevent military informa
tion reaching points ontsido'Singapore,
particularly regarding thc strength of
the naval reinforcements.
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