Evening star., 1940-04-23
British Diplomacy
Battles 10 Get Japan S
Benevolent Neutrality
Amazing Concessions
Hinted in Effort to PIuq
Flow of Goods to Reich

I1iHtSu III cIIOIt 10 rug
Flow Of Goods to Reich
~ the Associated Press.
TOXIC, April 23.-A severe diplo-
matte battle Is raging behind the
scenes here between Great Britain
and Germany, reliable source dis
closed today, each side seeking to
enlist Japan's benevolent neutral
ity" toward the European war.
This informant said that the
British had "hinted at amazing con-
cessions" in an effort to obtain ia
pans consent to intensification of
the allied blockade in the Pacific.
The major objective there would be
to prevent war materials-American
oil, copper and tin and rubber from
the East Indies-from reaching
Vladivostok for shipment over the
Trans Siberian Railway to Ger
many.
Reports reaching Japan said that
Vladivostok is choked with incoming
cargoes consigned to Germany, that
warehouses are overfloWing and
docks piled high.
1900 metric tons Q,653 tons) OF
carbon daily is licensed for trans
shipment.
Copper, Oil and Tin Exports Jump.
American copper imports at the
Russian port from the outbreak Of
the war until March 81 totaled TO-
600 metric tons (77,140 tons),
according to japanese statls-
tics, whereas formerly Vladi-
vostok received an average OF
only 5000 metric tons yearly. I'm
ports of oil and tin have increased
similarly, it was said.
The informant disclosed that the
latest British move came in the form
of a proposal to conclude trade
agreement whereby Japan's already
heavily favorable balance would be
substantially increased through
greater British purchases of jap
anese foodstuffs.
1t was indicated that Britain also
Is prepared to meet japanese de-,
mands for a lowered tariff on cot
ton textiles entering India.
Understanding Seen.
Gradual relaxation of British
French opposition to Japan's policies
are expected with the probability
that an understanding will soon be
reached" on the following points:
l. Disposition of Chinese govern
ment-claimed silver specie stored in
vaults within the British and French
concessions at Tientsin. A forecast
that an agreement on this point
would be reached soon was published
last week in the Tientsin newspaper
Yung Pao, mouthpiece of the Japan
ese Army there
Yung Pao said that 100000 OF the
$12,000,000 worth of silver would be
sllocated to famine relief in North
China and the remainder taken into
custody by joint committee. Linked
with agreement on this issue was the
prospect of accord on North China
currency questions and resultant
lifting of the japanese blockade OF
the British and French concessions
at TientSin.
Closing of China's Lifeline"
z. Closing of the Hanoi-Kunming
Railway in Southwestern China to
transportation of supplies from
French Indo-China for the Chung
king government of Generalissimo
Chang Kai-shek, a step long de-
sired by the japanese forces in
| China
g. Withdrawal of British stabiliza-
ton of the Chinese Nationalist cur
rency.
4. Cooperation of the British
commercial interests in China with
the japanese and the Japanese
sponsored regime Of Wang Ching
wei.
Neutral military experts asserted
that the Trans-Siberian Railway is
one of the biggest loopholes in Brit
aims worldwide effort to block the
flow of commodities to and from
Germany.
Japan's Consent Necessary.
Japans consent was said to be
absolutely necessary to plug this
hole. Vladivostok lies on the Sea
of Japan and the Japanese recently
have voiced concern lest the activ-
tiles of British warships be extended
there.
1t was understood British Ambas-
sador Sir Robert Leslie Graigie had
advised the japanese Foreign Office
that Britain would permit Norwe-
gian shipping to continue to ply
regularly between japanese ports
without interference.
Toxic newspapers, meanwhile,
gave great prominence to the testi-
mony given before the Naval Affairs
Committee in Washington by Rear
Admiral Joseph K. Taussig, who was
quoted as saying that war between
the United States and Japan is in
escapable if the present trend of
events continues.
The japanese Admiralty declined