It is worthy of more than passing note that discontent within Germany itself is beginning to show more openly. It is nothing really serious es yet, but the symptoms appear. Goebbels' note has lost much of its confident stridency; there is more "explanation" being done; the peoples of occupied Europe are as antagonistic as ever; and" economic conditions are worsening.
This is not wishful thinking; It 1s a fact. Hard indeed is it to understand the increasing surrender of the Men of Vichy. Marshal Petain and Admiral Darlan have met Goering for some as-vet-undisclosed act of further "collaboration." One could understand protesting submission to seriously penal pressure; one cannot understand the boasted ce-operation Bangkok, Dec. 6.
Thailand has no secret military pact with any foreign Power, declared the Premier, Field-Marshal Luang Pibul Songgram. yesterday.
In an interview with the Bangkok Chronicle, he said: "We have a nonaggression pact with Britain and a treaty of amity with Japan, If these great Powers do not consider such Sacred treaties scraps of paper then Thailand must be considered safe from invasion." Thailand. he stated, must remain prepared at all times because she should not be taken by surprise though she had no idea who would be her enemy. "If we cannot escape war we have got to fight, fight well and fight to the end," the Premier added.—Reuter.
Diplomatic observers attach a great deal of significance to the fact that the Premier thought it necessary to make a public pronouncement yesterday, when the Far Eastern tension was reported to be reaching. breaking point.
They also think it no less significant that for the second time in three weeks the Premier has categorically denied that Thailand has entered into a military pact with any foreign power.
No "Serap-of-Paper" Attitude It is recalled that on November 11 the Premier flatly contradicted an accusation by the Japanese press that Thailand was negotiating a joint defence agreement with Britain.
Observers hold that the Premier's repeated refutation of the charge of a military alliance gives some clue to what he considers the danger spot.
The Premier believes that Thailand need not fear an invasion as long as both Britain and Japan do rot treat their non-aggression pact with Thailand as scraps of paper. He is therefore determined, observers point out, that there shall be no excuse for a "scrap-of-paper" attitude on the ground that Thailand has contracted a military alliance with the other party.—Reut Search for Sydney Abandoned Melbourne, Dec. 6.
Search for the missing Australian cruiser Sydney has been abandoned, it was officially announced today.
The Sydney was believed to have sunk with all hands after a battle with the German merchant raider Kormoran (Stéitmarek) which also
United Press—was sunk in Australian waters—
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