The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-09-25

here, asked about the alliance,
said only that Stahmers was q
representative of Joachim Won
Ribbentrop, Nazi foreign minister,
and that the nature Of his mission
to Tokyo was unknown.
There was no provision for japan
to change its ACKNOWLEDGEMENT" war
policy at the present moment, it was
said. This would come only when
Japan and Germany felt that too
close United States-British coopera-
ton menaced their interests.
Germany and Japan, the Tokyo
advices said, agreed on a worldwide
policy to prevent full American CO.
operation with, Britain, and 1t was
asserted that this diversion included
activities in South America.
Information in Tokyo was vague
concerning the latter phase, the
United Press advices said. It was
believed that any South American
activities would be left largely to
German initiative. The presumption
among foreign observers, it was said,
was that any activity would include
attempts to create political unrest
in South America.
Though it was too early to assess
the full implications of the alliance
as outlined, foreign opinion in Tokyo
inclined to the belief that it meant
the abandonment by Germany Of its
hope for a quick, crushing victory
against Britain, and that 1t consti-
tuted a part of German preparation
for prolonged war.
Japanese publicity agencies were
becoming increasingly sharp in
their discussions of United States
policy.
Indo- China, The Netherlands, and
Shanghai, the great port of China,
were taking definite parts in pat
tern of Far Eastern development
that threatened grave trouble for the
United States.
Authoritative sources here ex-
pressed increasing interest in Japan's
activities in Siam. Japanese inva-
sion of Indo- China, it was said,
opened the way for direct Japanese
Siamese continental military CO.
operation which might result in an
attempt to isolate Singapore as part
of German-Italian plan to break
up the British empire.
In Shanghai proper, there was
imminent threat of trouble.
Police, investigating a sudden
transport strike in the International
Settlement and French concession,
charged that agents in Japanese en-
ploy had fomented the strike.
Street car and bus workers struck
day in the French concession.
Japanese newspapers asserted that
taxicab drivers would strike soon
and Settlement police alleged that
operatives Of the Marking regime,
sponsored by. Japan, were trying to
start gas, power and water strike.
In the concession, street car in
spectors operated the cars, with
armed escorts guarding them. Po-
lice lined the streets and French
troops guarded the car barns.
Authoritative informants said that
japanese leaders here had held sew
eral important conferences which
! were believed to b connected with
some big move In Shanghai, most
probably seizure Of the International
| Settlement and the French conces-
sion.
It was suggested that Japanese
action hinged on the United States
action toward the Indo- China in
| vasion that If there were no
important retaliation from WASH
ington, the Japanese would act here.
Admiral Hart was expected to
confer with Colonel De Witt Peck,
Marine commandant; Rear Ad-
miral william A. GlassfoTd, IT,,
commanding the Yangtze River
Patrol; and Consul General Rich
ard p. Butrick.
This conference was expected TO
include the problem Of evacuating
1000 Americans from Japan, Man
chukuo and China In event Of o
crisis.
It was understood that prelim-
mary discussions had taken place
during Harris recent visit here.
Foreign leaders here suggested
that the strike fermentation was de-
signed to eerate disorderly condi-
tons which the japanese would use
as an excuse to occupy most Of the
settlement and oil the French con-
session "for the purpose OF festor-
ing order"
significantly, the Japanese news
papers started TO circulate runners
that the United States would soon
withdraw its Marines because the
present force Is too small 10 main-
tain order"
At the same time, II was suggest.
ed that IN any japanese seizure
move, the small zone which the
Marines now guard would DO left
alone. But, II was said, the Japa.
neBe would selSe control ef the en-.
tire business area OF the Settlement
on which its he depends,
Il