The despatch of United States forces to Teeland for the purpose of taking over garrisoning duties from the British has aroused quite a sensation in enemy capitals, and given their propagandists an opportunity' of putting some more ridiculous stories into circulation.
The latest is that the United States intend to acquire a military base on the Kemeha'ka peninsula, and that negotiations were under way whereby they would also obtain a base in the Azores, That such acquisitions appear to fit in with the general scheme of the defence of the western hemisphere was the opportunity upon which the enemy lie merchants seized with -avidity. With regard to the Kamchatka story it was obviously designed for the purpose of endeavouring to bring about an embroilment of the: United States and Japan. Mr. Sumner Welles has made it quite clear that no discus. sions on the subject have taken or are taking place between the United States and Soviet Russia, pointing ous that the rumour had been current for many years past. It may be taken for granted that the longer Japan delays Joining in this war on the side of Germany, the greater will be the efforts of Dr. Goebbels's Action writers to produce something likely to convince the Japanese of the sinister quality of American plans with regard to the Far East, Nothing would sult Hitler's book more than thad the two nations should go to war, for he fandes that were the United States preoccupied with a struggle against the Japanese. the help which Is at present going forward fo Great Britain would diminish and with it the certainty of his own defeat. Such tricks these are not likely to succeed for the Japanese are far too realistic to be tricked by such transparent devices as this.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.