Evening star., 1941-12-05
Far East Reported
Preparing for EorIy
u. S.-Tokio Break

gave his personal attention today
to document presenting Japan'>
reply to his request for an eX-
PLANTATION Of japanese troop
NOV ments into French Indo-
China, crucial factor in current
Far Eastern tension.
TOkio'S envoyS required . minutes
TO give Secretary of State Hull theil
governments answer and after then
departure it was rushed Immediately
TO Mr.. RooSevelt's desk. The Presi-
dent also met Secretary Hull al
luncheon for a personal discussion
OF the document.
ANY public word as to the nature
OF the reply was withheld. The State
Department refereed all inquiries
to the White House But in diplo-
matte quarters there was Specula-
ton that the Toxic government had
chosen to make statement of policy
which from the American point of
view could not be considered con-
elusive or decisive.
Meanwhile. radio reports from Mel
bourne told of Australia's s fear that
the United States and Japan might
break off relations at any minute.
and Japanese newspaper comment
reflected a gloomy view of the situa-
ton.
Ambassador Nomura and Special
Envoy Kulusu of Japan called on
Mr.. Hull after he had previously
been conversing by telephone with
President Roosevelt for half an hour.
Envoys Have No Comment
The envoys told waiting news
papermen at the State Department
they had no comment when they
emerged from the interview which
may have a fateful effect on the
course of American policy. MI
Kurusu. however. maintained a
hopeful attitude with the press and
said the reports of troop move
ments into Indo-China were eXag-
eerated
Ambassador Nomura strongly indi-
Gated that Japan desired no pre-
cipitate action with the statement:
"As far as We are concerned. We
are always willing to talk-after all.
We are friendly nation"
II seemed a fair conjecture here
that the emphasis on "eXaggera ton"
of reports was the substance of the
official aJpanese explanation. Au-
thoritative washington reports had
estimated the number OF soldiers IN
1ndo-China At 100 900. with thou
sends mere waiting on transports
lv'nc of the Indo-China coast.
The White House viii be the source
cf furthur American comment on
or relations with Japan. the State
D-2artment stated. Beyond this the
administration would not go for the
present in discussing the situation
as it exists following the delivery OF
the japanese reply.
President Roosevelt told his press
conference he had no advance ideas
on what the japanese developments
of the day might be. He made the
disclosure he had had a long tele-
phone conversation with Mr.. Hull
and gave that as his reason for being
nearly 80 minutes late for his meet
ing with the press.
TenseneSs Increases.
While Kurusu was hopeful and
the State Department silent, Aus
tralia reflected fully the tenseness
OF the situation. The radio report
from Melbourne said the Australian
government expected that break
in relations between the United
States and Japan might come at
any minute. Australia is co-oepr-
ating with the United States,
Great Britain. China and the
Netherlands Indies in presenting a
strong our-poWer front against
japanese ambition.
The Melbourne broadcast said
Australia's cabinet ministers de-
cided to remain in the capital,
Canberra. during the week end be-
cause the government had received
messages indicating a rupture was
imminent between Washington and
Toxic
Behind the scenes in Australia
the war cabinet met and made i'm
portant decisions, it was said, the
nature of which officials did not
reveal. It was emphasized that the
decisions do not mean war is in
evitable.
The japanese envoys did not bring
with them to the State Department
reply to the note of November 26
a reply to the note of November
26 from Mr.. Hull setting forth the
fundamental principles which would
determine the American course in
about the Far East, Mr..
Hill had made it clear earlier in the
week that he looked on Japanese
reply to this note as an essential to
further conversations. The ENJOYS
said TODAY they did not know when
they would get reply to that note.
The second note set up as basis
for further discussions the funGa-
mentals of non-aggresSion. tearty
observance and equality Of trade
opportunities for all nations.
The japanese in Mexico felt the
tension also.
japanese Minister Yoshiaki Miura
said in Mexico City that the critical
situation in the Pacific had caused
Toxic to order his return home i'm
for consultations on "the
actual situation" in Mexico.
only God knows how this crisis
will be resolved" he said.
Many of the $500 Japanese resi-
dents Of Mexico were reported try
ing to dispose of their property
and leave because of expressed fears
(See JAPANESE, Page A-6D