'Vice-Admiral Yoshida declared that, the Japanese navy did not feel any' threat from the American naval manceuvres now under way in the Pacific even though "America should contemplate making politico) capital of her present war games."
The Navy Minister deprecated the suggestion that the manquvres were being held as a show of strength in view of the establishment of the reorganized "National Government of China" in Nanking.
Vice-Admiral Yoshida pointed out that the American navy held mar q@uvres every year during or near April, He suggested that the present games were being carried on'according to their usual schedule.
Japan, he added, should be prepared materially and spiritually to meet any change in the international situation, which was likely to change any time as shown by the latest developments In the European wai Deterring Elements The delicate situation prevailing between Italy, Germany and the Soviet Union was likely to prove a Aelerrent upon a quick Ballan decision regarding her participation in the European conflict, Vice-Admiral Yoshida added.
America was also paying serious consideration (0. her. interests in weighing the advisability of her participation in the war, according to the Navy Minister, Vice-Admiral Yoshida advised patience in dealing with the Chungking regime, predicting that it would abandon resistance when it found out that it could not hold out against the steady pressure of the Nanking Government.
The blockade of the China seacoast had cut off both funds and sup-lies from Chungking, he pointed out.
Compared to Greenland Japan's concern over the fate of} the Netherlands East Indies in the event of Holland's involvement in the European war was compared today by a spokesman for the Japan ese Ministry of the Navy to Amicrica's solicitude towards Greenland. the United States feels solicitous for the maintenance of the status quo in Greenland, there is no wonder that Japan feels so concerned over the fate of the Netherlands East Indies," he declared.
American interests an Greenland could not stand comparison with Japan's vital interests in Holland's Far Eastern possessions, the spokesman asserted.
'The Japanese Navy, he continued, felt grave concern for the mainten: ance of the status quo in the Nether-Tonds East Indies, because any change the status of' those islands, as a Fesult of the European war, would mean the extension of the conflict to this part of the world, In view of Japan's policy of non-involvement in the European war, the spokesman added, the Japanese avy felt strong
the confliet—Domel. ly opposed to such an extension of
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