Evening star., 1941-07-26
Dominions Agree to Step
After Consulting London

tOQaV SuSpenQeQ all cOmmercldl
treaties with Japan. and the British
Ambassador to Toxic, Sir Robert
Leslie Craigie, has informed the
japanese government of the action
This action followed British freez-
ing of japanese assets in concert
with similar American action.
Treaties suspended include the
Anglo-Japanese treaty of 1911 de-
fining general commercial and eco
nomic relations, the Indo-Japanese
commercial convention of 1884. and
the Burma-Japanese commercial
pact of 1897
Authoritative circles said later
that dominions of the empire had
been consulted on these matters
and that all agreed to the action
taken by the British government.
Parallel Actions Taken.
The Union of South Africa an
nounced at Pretoria. the Transvaal,
that it was freezing japanese assets
and the Singapore government of
the Straits Settlements ordered
japanese and Chinese assets frozen
Besidese commercial relations. the
treaties govern the acquisition of
property. conditions of residence in
the two countries, navigation rights
and trade in general
The United States and Great Brit
ain took parallel action on "all these
matters" reliable source said.
Great Britain will continue to
MAINTAIN conSulates in French In
do-China, it was said. The source
added that the British would fol-
low the United States in control
ling Chinese assets if so directed by
the Chungking government.
Japan Given Six Months.
Economic experts suggested that
freezing of Japanese assets in the
United States and the British En-
pire was only one weapon in an
economic arsenal that could bring
japanese industry to its knees in
six months.
AS British newspapers expressed
satisfaction with the freezing action
in retaliation for Japans expected
move on Indo- China. officials let it
be known that a total blockade of
Japan has been studied.
Occupation of Indo-C China would
increase japanese stocks of rubber,
tin, rice, tungsten, coal and zinc,
but Britain and America could Grip
pie Japan by cutting of her imports
OF iron ore, scrap iron, pig iron, cop
per: nickel, aluminium. manganese,
vanadium, mercury, cotton and wool,
experts declared.
Britain already has scaled down
to relatively unimportant quantities
most of her exports to Japan be-
cause of her own war needs. But
with American and Netherlands In
dies cooperation and British naval
forces already in the Red Sea, In
dian Ocean and the Atlantic, the
blockade could be cheaply and
quickly applied, it was held.
Has Large Supplies.
1t was conceded that Japan has
large supplies on hand. built up
during two years of large-scale buy
ing. but with $500 900 troops in the
field. the worlds third largest navy
and an expanding air force to sup
ply. it was believed she soon would
feel the pinch of blockade
The Netherlands government was
expected to join Britain and the
United States in the freezing action,
which would affect important Japa-
nese trade with the Netherlands
Indies. An official statement said
the government was in consultation
with authorities in Batavia.
British sources called the joint
action of the three governments
historic, since it was against "a
country which neither is a declared
enemy nor occupied or controllef
by a declared enemy. 1t was hale
as concrete proof that the policy
of appeasement is completely dead.
"The reply of the democracies to
Japanese aggression comes swiftly
and united. '* Appeasement has
ended" wrote the News Chronicle.