However, the joint use by Great Britain and the United States of naval and air bases in the Pacific, where Japan has been acting as the stabilizing force, and where there is necessity for Anglo-American mutual defence, distinctly constitutes a challenge to Japan, it was stressed.
Tokyo newspapers, meanwhile, concentrated their attention on the parleys going on in Washington. The influential "Asahi," predicting closer Anglo-American collaboration in the Pacific area as a result of the Hull-Lothian-Casey talks, bluntly warned that Japan must be prepared for i ure, stressed that Japan must be militarily and diplomatically prepared for any eventuality. Pointing out that though Mr. Hull admitted to the press that Singapore was mentioned just "casually," the "Asahi" expressed the belief that there would be "nothing strange if the United States was allowed to use": the Singapore base.
The popular "Yomiuri," meanwhile, observed that, the United States "plainly is pring to provoke Japan" by seeking use of the Singapore base. The paper declared that although strict secrecy was being maintained regarding the talks being held in Washington, the outcome of Long War Forecast by French Army Expert Many Difficulties Seeñ Ahead of Axis Powers Clermont-Ferrand, Sept. 22.
It would be taking a short-sighted view of the present conflict between Great Britain and the Axis powers to think that it might end within the near future, General Dunal, noted French military commentator, declared in an article appearing in today's "Lo Journal."
There is more to the present war, he added, than the aerial bombardment of London and the possible landing of German troops on Great Britain's coasts.
The present Axis attack against the British Empire may, theoretically speaking, spread over three separate battlefield', the writer continued, these being the British Isles in Europe, Egypt, Somaliland and the Sudan in Africa, and India in Asia.
Since the beginning of the conflict Germany has been exerting ever effort to cut Britain off from the rest of the world. However, to dominate the latter's lines of communication with the United States is a most difficult task. An easier one would be to cut her off from North and East Africa, and it is to this end that Italy is working now.
To be successful in this, Italy would have to control Gibraltar, the Straits of Sicily, part of the Indian Ocean, the Straits of Aden, and the Red Sea.
Tt may thus be assumed that Italy's action against British Somaliland logically preceded the present offend sive from Libya against Egypt. The Italians will have to cut off Egypt's communication lines with India, Autralia and New Zealand and thus compel her to live on her own resources.
As for India, there has yet been no attack against her from abroad, but certain elements are working from within to stir up the population.
Therefore, the author concluded, an early victory for either side is not in prospect and the world will probably witness a long-drawn-out-conflict before a decision is reached—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.