The Reply to Japan
The Prime Minister's plain statement of Britain's position and British policy to the Japanese Ambassador in London on Monday has had a visibly satisfactory effect. It has not ended the existing tension, but it has, at any rate temporarily, relieved it. According to The Times Tokyo correspondent, " Hitler's speech was virtually extinguished by the greater interest taken in Mr. Churchill's exposition of policy towards Japan." But Japan's own attitude still requires considerable modifi- cation. At this moment she is taking the leading part in " peace talks " between Thailand and Indo-China in which, towards the latter, she adopts a bullying attitude backed by the use of force. In the course of these talks she is actually engaged in unloading bombs and aviation petrol on Indo- Chinese soil. Neither our own Government nor the American can be impressed by the Japanese Foreign Minister's pro- fessions of peaceful intentions while his Government is threatening Indo-China, bribing Thailand, pressing the Dutch East Indies, and making extravagant claims to special interests in " Oceania." The measures which have been taken by our own Government in conjunction with the Australian to defend Malaya are defensive only, but there is no longer any question of a spurious policy of " appeasement." Mr. Fadden, the Acting Prime Minister of Australia. and Sir Frederick Stewart, Minister for External Affairs, have spoken with un- mistakable firmness, and in the same spirit as Mr. Churchill's Australia, said Mr. Fadden, is preparing for " the maximum necessity in protecting Australia."
Previous page
