To Oppose U.S.A.; Issue Still Open Washington, Aug: 17. 1HERE is some surprise here at the Japanese Government's apparent intention not to abide by the decision of the Shanghai Defence Committee regarding the patrolling of the Bri ish Defence Sector after the departure of British troops.
There is no indication that the United States intends to back down to Japanese demands that both British sectors should be turned over to them.
Washington appears to be awaiting the next Japanese move which, if taken, would appear to be not against an internat nal body which is everyone's and nobody' child, but di tly against the United States as represented by the Marines, The feel 1g still persists here that Japan is in no shape to undertake big adventures in addition to the China campaign, ccr~ tainly not while a British defeat is far from certain, One newspaper points out that "despite the quantities of officially inspired verbal thunder" Japan has taken only one small step to her threatened sweep into south-east Asia. 'The writer expresses the opin-fon that Japan has been bled deeply by the China' War, and while she will continue to cooperate with the Axis she will not ge ahead with her own programme as quickly and easily fas some suggest The writer draws the conclusion that "Japan is not a free agent. She has a slight engagement with a Eh exe she hat not even seen fit to declare war against formally—Chiang Ki -shek."—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.