Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-08
u. 5. Rushes Planes
To Dutch Indies as
Open Hint TO Japan
Toxic Believed BIuffing
In Economic Demands
Under Axis Pressure
By BLAIR BOLLES,


The United States is stepping up
its deliveries of American-made
varplanes to the Netherlands East
Indies in order to put new dis
couragements in the way of Japans
long threatened drive toward the
South Seas. it was learned yeSter-
day. Orders placed long ago are
being filled, continuing the trans
Pacific flow of planes which began
with the shipment OF S570OOOO0
worth in April.
The informed opinion here is that
Japan, still deeply occupied in
China, is bluffing with no intention
of acting at the present time on
hints that the Indies must give in
to japanese demands for a salts
factory Japanese Indies economic
accord. or face unhappy conse-
uuences. The American, British and
Dutch governments are in close
communication on the progress OF
the Indies negotiations.
Certain subsurface signs OF Off
elal japanese bewilderment have
been noted recently. despite the out
ward truculent vigor with which
some Japanese voices are raised.
Apparently the japanese hoped
that the Indies would prove as
amenable as did French Indo-China
several months ago. But the head
Of the japanese delegation in the
Indies for negotiations, Kenkichi
YoshizaWa, has found that Economic
Minister H J. van Nook. negotiating
for the Indies. intends to stand firm
in his resistance to the japanese
statement of their requirements.
Ultimatum Dangerous.
The firmness of the Indies. Sec
retarv of State Hulls reiteration Fri
Gay of this country's opposition TO
any interference with the Indies
status quo, the recent dispatch OF
more Army flyers to the Philippines
and the commencement of the plane
shipments to the Indies have all
combined, it is said, to persuade
Japan that it would be dangerous
to give the Indies anything that
might be construed as an ultimatum
nov.
Since the problem Of face" is In
rolved in the current Japanese |
Indies negotiations, the superstition
has gained some currency here that |
q change in the japanese cabinet
might take place if the present !
government. dominated by Admiral
Matsuoka, relaXes its demands on /
the Indies
Diplomats do not think Admiral |
MatSuoka is ready to fight now for !
the Indies, and the present Far !
Eastern policy Of the Netherlands,
the United States and Britain is
calculated to lead him to suspect
that ne might face q formidable
enemy if he tries to enforce his
demands on the Indies.
The three governments most in
terested in preventing Japan from
having her Indies demands satisfied
the United States, the Neither
lands and Britain-see German
prompting in the japanese require |
ments. Japan asks for larger
share than she now receives of the
Indies exports of war materials such
as rubber, oil and tin.
Rubber May Reach Nazis.
Not only does Japan now receive
some rubber, oil and tin from the |
Indies, but the recent establishments
of close working relations between |
Thailand and Japan and Indo- |
China and Japan give Japan access |
to Thailand's and Indo-China rub |
Der and Thailands tin Germany's
rubber problem is serious The con-
clusion drawn by the Allies econo- |
mists is that Japan wants the rub
Der for her Axis partner in Europe. |
Secretary Hull's reiteration Fri !
day of the firm American resolve !
that the Netherlands Indies integ- !
rity shall not be violated was in |
spired by a published report that |
Japan had sought a n-aggression !
pact with the United States. There |
were general denials that any such |
move had been made but the pub |
location of the report is taken as |
symptom of the Japanese desire |
to keep out of real trouble.
The uncertainty of the Japanese |
moves is causing Tokio's European |
eo-signers of the Tripartite Pact, !
Germany and Italy, some irritation.
It is understood. because Japan is !
not going far enough in turning |
American attention away from the