Evening star., 1940-06-13
Newspaper Declares
1000 Troops Sent
To Protect Islands
Foreign Office Regards
Article With Extreme
Gravity Despite DenioIs
r. the Associated Press.

r. the Associated Press.
TOXIC, June l3-The japanese
Foreign Office said today it regarded
with extreme gravity" a published
report alleging that 1000 British
troops had landed in the Netherlands
tIndies after the islands requested
protection.
While both the Dutch Legation
and the British Embassy here denied
the report, the Foreign Office awaited
direct word from its own consular
representatives.
Gn London a War Office
spokesman said he neither could
confirm nor deny the report.
British sources said they con-
sldered such action unlikely. The
Netherlands government in Lon
don has denied the rumor.
CThe Netherlands government
In London said:
C'There are no British troops in
Java, nor in any other part of the
Netherlands East Indies, and
there is no intention on the part
Of the Netherlands authorities to
make any change in their we'll
established policy of maintaining
the status quo in the Netherlands
East Indies.'D
The report was published by the
large Toxic newspaper Nichi Nichi
In dispatch from Surabaya, Java.
which said British officer had
disclosed accidentally that he was
member of a force sent from Singa-
port to East Java.
Concern to Japan.
The status of the Netherlands
Indies, rich in rubber, coffee and tin
and strategically located between the
Indian and Pacific Oceans. has been
q matter Of special concern to Japan
ever since Germany occupied the
Netherlands.
On May II, the day after the in
vaSion of Holland, an Allied force
landed in the Netherlands West
Indies ito prevent possible German
attempts at sabotage" in oil re-
flneries there London said the
action was taken in full agreement
with the Netherlands.
On this same day Japan an
nounced she had notified all powers
concerned that she would insist on
maintenance of the status quo in
the East Indies despite European
developments, and SIMILAR stands
quickly were taken by Great Britain.
France and the United States.
Assured Protection Unneeded.
On May % Germany informed
Japan she was mot interested in
the East Indies. A few davs later,
on June 3, Foreign Minister Hachiro
Arita again showed Japans concern
In the matter by saying that Japan
was interested in maintenance of
the economic status quo as we'll as
the political.
The Netherlands government
meanwhile assured Japan that for
elgn protection for the East Indies
neither was needed nor sought.
: With the government on the alert
over the Nichi Nichi dispatch, a sec
ond report, also unconfrmed. caused
concern in government quarters.
This report, received by the foreign
Office, said a Dutch naval plane had
machlne-gunned a Japanese fishing
boat off Gaspar Island. in the South
Paclflc near the Marshall Islands.
Speaks of Similar Incidents.
The foreign office said that if this
were confirmed a formal protest
would be lodged. An Admiralty
spokesman said similar" incidents
had occurred in the past, but that
"in view the present situation they
are more important now
This spokesman said in connec-
tlon with the general situation that
Japan would not be in responsive
mood regarding reported American
gestures of friendship unless the
United States "opens its eyes to the
new realities in the Far East and CO.
operates with Japan in establish
ment of the new order"
Actions are more eloquent than
verbal gestures" he added.
A plan was reported under way
here to send Admiral Kichisaburo
Nomura. former foreign minister, to
the Philippines to confer with
United States Commissioner Francis
B. Sayre and to the Netherlands
Indies to talk with Gov Gen. Tjarda
van Starkenborgh Stachouwer. AG-
miral Nomura then would report to
Arita. 1t is said the trip may be
made in July,