1f Mr. Kurusu is sincere, his position is hopeless, because he is little against his own government and the unyielding principles of the United States.
As a result, while there is still hope in Washington that war may be avoided, there is no optimism.
There is still puzzlement over Japan's position as she continues to force the issue nearer war, which, it is considered, she is bound to lose.
A writer in the "New York Times" recalls that General Tejo felt it necessary to make a belligerent speech as the talks opened here in the hope of making it appear to Wa-ashington that the alternative to his terms was war.
qf the purpose of his most recent speech was similar, the writer proceeds, it was equally unsuccessful, the American position being that she has taken a position alongside the British, Chinese and Netherlanders and is not prepared, to move from broad principles or jeopardize essential American supplies at the dictates of any power.
According to the writer, Washington fears Tokyo believes that the Americans are so divided that they will not fight for Siam, just as the Germans believed that the British would not fight for Danzig.
In an editorial the "New York Times" takes the occasion to reassure China that the Marines were not withdrawn from' Shanghai for lack of interest in China. "We are taking them out as part of the process of clearing the ground that we may meet any eventuality,"
Elsewhere in the same paper the suggestion is made that the German hand is clearly seen in Japan's actions, that those actions are part of Hitlers war, and that Hitler, not satisfied with forcing Russia to fight. seems bent on making the United States an active belligerent.—Reuter. for 20 minutes, after.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.