Formal announcements that a state of war exists between Britain anc the three nations have been Tokyo, Dec. 6. to roses vernacular press today took an increasingly pessimistic ed whi vi ow of the Far Eastern situation and indicated that the "worst eventuality" was near.
Doubting that Friday's meeting between Mr. Cordell Hull, aiding Secretary of State; Ambassadoi r Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura and Mr. Saburo Kurusu would be productive owing to the alleged manifested insincerity of the United States as well as America's alleged scheme to prolong negotiations in order to gain time to turn the situation in her favour, the newspapers said the Pacific situation was increasingly grave.
"Japan's attitude toward the United States is firm and unshakeable," said the "Yomiuri." "Ready to face any developments, Japan will be unmoved, at least by mere empty intimidation strategy."
The ultra-nationalistic. "Kokumin" said "Washington negotiations at last have reached the final stage. In the event United States forces invade East Asia, 1,100,000,000 southeastern Asiatic peoples will turn into a bomb."
Although the vernaculars all said that at the Eighth Washington conference, Japan replied to President Roosevelt's inquiry, they still did not disclose the nature of President Roosevelt's inquiry, merely stating that Japan made a "certain reply."
Thio. Premier and War Minister and General Gen Sugiyama, E of Staff. He lunched there with high Army officials.
The evening edition of the "Jap: Times and Advertiser" ran a two-column photograph of Japanese warships and manceuvring in the Pacific wuder the caption: "Sea Defences Ready." The caption declared that America, busy with building its two-ocean Navy, is prone to underestimate the strength Japan can muster in defence of its waters. but Admiral Shigetaro Shimada. Naw Minister, has assured the Japanese nation the Navy is ready and not a doubt exists on that score here.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.