The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-17
Britain Is Preparing
 For Japanese Attack
Continued from Page l)
maintained neutrality in its bid for domination of the South Seas.

maintained neutrality in its bid for domination of the South Seas.
 The Admiralty here and at Singa- pore announced yesterday that the waters of the southeast tip of the Malay Peninsula were now a dan- gerous zone for navigation.
 It was indicated that the area had been mined so as to close the approaches to singapore to shipping from Thailand, Indo-China, China and Japan except by secret routes known only to authorized pilots.
 Dangerous Area
 The dangerous" area extends from 2:44 degrees north latitude on the north to 1:35 degrees north lati- tude and from 104:30 east longitude to the Malayn coast.
 'MineS will be laid in the above area without further n otice and vessels wishing to pass through the area must apply to British naval authorities at Singapore for route" the Admiralty said. Any vessel dis regarding these instructions will do so at Its own risk"
 Britain's anxiety was increased by reports which persisted despite Japanese denials that Japan sought air force bases in both Thailand and French Indo-China.
 There was great interest here in the attitude of the United States in favor of its declarations in favor of the maintenance of the present status in the South Seas.
 During the week end the British legation at Bangkok advised British women and children to leave Thai land as soon as possible and the British embassy at Shanghai re- peated previous advice to non-es- Sential Britons to leave Japanese occupied parts of China.
 Japan Planning
 Tokyo, Feb. 17-CUP)-Vice For eign Minister Chuichi Ahashi said in the love CT house of parliament today that Japan was making ef- forts" to assure that the Philippines twill not endanger Japan in the fu- ture."
 Ohashi made the remark ill re- Sponse to questions by members of the accounts committee but gave no clue as to how Japan intended to neutralize possibility of Philippine threat.
 Japan is concerned regarding the Philippines as JapanS friendly neighbor," he said, and therefore desires that the Philippines will not endanger Japan in the future.
 "We are making efforts to that end"
 Earlier, Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka had asked the Japanese peoples support in connection with importation of German technic1ans and latest German inventions in or- der to strengthen national defense and the country,s general economy.
 tThe official Domei Japanese news agency, in a broadcast heard in New York, quoted Ohasi as say- ing Japan sought solution of her life and death" problem in the South Seas through peaceful nego- tiation to the very last"
 Gle said use of force in the South Pacific might bring about destruc- tion and "unfavorable effects upon Japan" He was quoted as saying the Philippines are regarded as "a member of our neighborhood circle.
 False Fears They Claim
 t(He charged that false fears ot Japanese aggression had been aroused by Great Britain and claimed that negotiations over "mu- tual misunderstandings" with the Netherlands East Indies had been re-opened.
 (He said that it was "regrettable" that such reports made further dis cussionS with the Dutch necessary and warned that if an attempt was made to restrict Japan by circula- tion of false reports grave conse- quences" will then be unavoidable.) Matsuoka gave no details of the plan to utilize German skill. He was responding in parliament to questions regarding the operations of joint military political l-econ- omic commission composed of Jap anese, German and Italian dele gates which is to implement Japan'S alliance with the Axis powers.
 Matsuoka said he put special em- phasiS on the development by the committee of peace time industries, and pointed out that these were al- so an important defense factor.
 He continued to say that strength ening of Japanese economy was al- so necessary from the viewpoint of Japan's construction of a greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere" It was then that he asked support of the people for the importation of German technicians and inventions. He added that the military com- mission was already functioning.
 Excited press dispatches reported that American ship captains in the Pacific were now carrying sealed in- StructionS on what to do if war broke out, that Britain had concen- trated 10000 men on the Thailand frontier and that Britain was work ing out joint campaign plans with China against Japan.
 Vice Foreign Minister Chuichi Ohashi, responding to questions by members of the accounts commit tee of the lower house, said:
 Japan is concerned regarding the Philippines as Japan's friendly neighbor, and therefore desires that they will not endanger Japan in future. We are making efforts to flat ay1d n