The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-20

British Proposals
 The proposals were believed to in- clude these points:
 1. The United States, the Philip pines, the British Empire and allied Colonial Empires should restrict eX- ports to Japan to normal peacetime levels or less.
 2. The United States should put a further indirect check on Japan csc imports by limiting to normal or less United States controlled shipping available to Japan, espe- cially tankerS.
 3. The United States by buying large amounts of key materials in South America, could put brake on present big Japanese purchases there.
 4. If the United States would give favorable consideration to estab- lishment of a British contraband base in the Caribbean it would help the British to control exports to the Far East from the east coast of South America via the Panama Canal. It was reportedly pointed out to Hopkins that the United States had imposed complete embargoes on a small range of exports, including high octane gasoline, but had not restricted exports of other petrol cum products, cotton, lead and other minerals. The British Empire has, however, restricted its exports to Japan of these and wide range of other products to normal or less.
 The British were said to have suggested that policies should be co-ordinated and that the United States, Britain, the Philippines and allied colonial powers should re- strict exports to Japan and Japan csc controlled areas.
 It was believed that the note was intended first to divert attention from Japan's own warlike activities and to demonstrate to the Japanese people that their government was not passively accepting such meas ures as American plans to strength en Guam and Samoa and British re- inforcement of Singapore.
 Viscoutn Halifax, British Ambas- sador at Washington, was expected to consult the State department on the note and on Britain's reply, which was expected to be firm but polite Mo-
 There was believed to be good chance that Foreign Secretary An- thony Eden, in the note, would take the opportunity to put on record numerous Japanese activities which have caused anxiety.
 No one in authority seemed to take the Japanese note seriously. It was considered a tactical maneuver only, and as regards offers of medi- ation all official comments tend to confirm the impression that Britain s terms for peace are complete victory.
 British Stronger Britain'S position was regarded as immensely stronger because of its prompt reinforcement of Singapore and hte mining of Mayalan waters in answer to Japanese warlike moves.
 | CAHCA CtCl1 Ou66CoIC0 that Britain's moves might have frustrated Japanese plans for a drive in the South Seas in further ance of its expansionist ambitions.
 They said that they could not see how Japan could make such prog ress without attacking Singapore, and that Singapore was now almost impregnable.
 They expressed belief that If an attack were made, it must be made on the land side, from Thailand. Tn this connection they recalled that in the last war it took Japan two months, with the aid of a strong British force, to occupy the cim- pletely isolated German base of Tsingtao, on the Chinese coast near Japan.
 AS regards airplane strength, ex- perts said that they doubted that Japan could have matched that of Singapore even before hte arrival of the new endorsements. Meaning of Note There was a marked difference of opinion among newspapers as to the meaning of the Japanese medi- ation note. The Daily Telegraph charged that 1t was instigated by Germany. The Times, however, ex- pressed belief that 1t was a sincere attempt to avoid a long. drawn. .out war which Japan fears might end In an era of conInunistic revolution. The News Chronicle suggested that the mediation offer might have been made because Of the breakdown Of an Axis plan to spread the war to the Far Est and that Japan had created . diversion 10 destract at- tention until the disarranged Axis schedule could be reyiseI.
 Ivan Maisky, Russian ambassador, conferred at the foreign office today ] with R. A. Butter, parliamentary 1 under secretary for foreign affairs, on Japanese activities including the 'medlnliOn" note,