The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-09-18
Missions, Committees And Military Delegations
 All Putting Pressure On Entire South Pacific

There was a trade mission then, to iron out the difficulties, and it almost got some place An agree ment was worked out and was ready to initial when the Japs came forward with one more little pro posal. All they wanted was an agreement for developing further the resources of the islands, and they coyly suggested that this be done under a working arrangement whereby all outer possessions should be developed jointly by the Japs and the Dutch!
 The conference ended there and then, of course, but the incident is cited here to show what is likely to come up in some of the future dickerings.
 Japanese pressure on the Indies has, in fact, been put on ever since the war broke out in Europe. There have been demands to abolish the import restrictions. There have been demands that the Dutch accept a trade delegation which would have as it's leader a man of ambassa- dorial rank. Mitsui interests have had private delegations on hand. LAPS WANT
 TO SELL, TOO
 To suggestions that the Japanese wanted to buy from the Indies, the Dutch have been enthusiastically receptive, but always there have been jokers in the deck-the Japs would buy only if the government of the Indies would guarantee de- liverys and this was taken to mean that the Japs would be in a position to demand delivery to the extent of shutting of delivery to all other customers. To suggestions for fur tter missions to high rank, the Dutch have politely replied they would be willing to talk only if a definite agenda could be agreed on before the sessions opened.
 The truth of the matter is the Japs want to sell, yen for yen, just as much as they buy. Java, with its millions of highly concentrated population, offers a market of peo- pie with a standard of living about equal to that of the Japs, and therefore good consumers of cheap goods.
 The Japs now have certain con- sessions in the Indies, and there are about 25,000 Japanese in the archipelago, fishing, planting cot- ton, taking of lumber. The Dutch, who have watched these operations, say they cannot possibly be profit able, and that their sole purpose is to provide Japan with bases for fur ther inward expansion.
 DUTCH MIGHT
 WRECK ASSETS
 As to whether the JapS might successfully force an occupation of the islands, there is considerable doubt. Formosa is the closest jump ing of place. The Japanese navy, which has played a minor part in the China war, might be anxious for a show of its. own. It has developed aircraft carriers to a high degree, including one carrier for seaplanes. But the coastal waters of the Indies are shallow waters which would hamper fleet offensive operations.
 Regardless of who wins the l european war, lU IS 1elL CIldG Jdpd- nese expansion in the Indies, even in French Indo- China, would be frowned on by the winner, England or Germany.
 And finally. if everything else fails, it is believed the Dutch have a defense plan which includes the complete wreckage of every valu- able asset in the country. Such a plan is known to have been formu- lated in 1886, when it was reported that the Japanese fleet was in the Celebes, and the Dutch clamped down a censorship so tight that no news at all leaked out till the report was proved false. If a plan of that kind were carried out today, it would leave to Japan or any other would-be conqueror an empty shell. Which proves again that it is the economic pentration of the Japanese which is feared more than actual military occupation.