The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-06-05
FEAR EAST SEES
 | CRISIS LOOMING
Japanese Said to. Have Given Dutch "A Hours
 to Accept Demands
RY HARRTsoN sALTsnURY

01 kAfAntkA0VkN SR4AgASAsA United Press stan COrrespondent)
 A possible Dutch- Japanese crisis in the Far East arose today, appar- ently timed to coincide with prepa- rations for new and intensive fighting on the middle eastern front.
 Reports from Batavia disclosed that the Japanese have served what amounted to an ultlmatunn upon the Dutch in their long-drawn ne. gotiationS concerning econ m c concessions by the Netherlands East Indies.
 The Japanese were said to have given the Dutch 24 hours to accept their demands and to have made plain that if the terms are not agreed to the Japanese negotiators will return to Tokio and report to their government. The implica- ton was that if the Dutch do not yield Japan may employ stronger pressure to force acceptance of her demands.
 whether the difficulties with the Dutch would be seized upon by the Japanese as an excuse to launch their long contemplated drive to expand In the south Pacific was not indicated.
 However the Far Eastern tension came at a moment when 1t appear cd. Great Britain shortly will be oc- cupied to the full extent of her fighting resources in the middle east.
 The Tokyo newspaper, Nichi Nichi, charged in a dispatch from Shanghai that Britain, the United States and China are speeding llil- itary collaboration to place then1- selves in e position for a possible war with Japan in the south Paci- fic.
 The newspaper said that Ameri- can preparations to enter the war have caused the three anti-Japa- nese powers to realize that if the United States fights German aos- tilities with Japan will ensue.
 In consequence, Nichi Nichi said, Britain the United States and China are making frantic" efforts to build up Q strong air front against Japan with the chief bases at Singapore, the Dutch East ln- dies sid Manila.
 Nichi Nichi asserted that the United States had embarked on Q program of rebuilding the Chinese air force and charged that U. s., British and Dutch warships are tightening 0 ring around Japan In the south Pacific.
 Tn the middle east events appeared to be marking time with Syria still the center of attention.
 British preparations to move into Syria appeared to be complete but there still was no positive indication that imperial troops or Free French forces would invade that French mandated territory.
 A dispatch from Turkey claimed that controversy had broken out between Gen. Sir Archibald Wavell, British commander of middle eastern forces and Gen. Georges Catroux, Free French leader. over advisability of 6 move into Syria.
 Catroux was said to favor iinmed- fate action, claiming Syria would put up only 6 weak or token" de- fense. Wavell was said to fear Q move Into Syria might over extend his hard pressed forces. Gen. Charles DeGaulle, chief Free French commander, was said to be trying to compose these differences.
 No hint came from London as to whether action against Syria would be undertaken but u was siad that British forces now are in positions in Palestine, Iraq and Transjor- dania, ready to move If orders are given.
 Gen. Maxine Weygand, French commander In North Africa and ex- pert on Syria, remained In Vichy and 1t was said his stay might be prolonged to Saturday. Otto Abetz, Adolf Hitler's emissary In Paris, af- rived there with new Franco. Ger man collaboration plans. Pierre Boisson, French governor of West Africa and defender of Dakar, nr- rived in vichy emphasizing the pre- occupation 10 Marshal Henri Philip pc Petain with the question of col. onial defenses.
 Berlin asserted that the British fleet had been 50 weakened iii the heavy attacks in the Mediterranean that the British would find 1t ever more difficult to protect shipping in the north Atlantic. The high command cliamed the sinking 24,000 tnos more of shipping in the North Atlantic and asserted that Q 6000- ton auxiliary warship had been sunk off the British east coast by speedboats.