Threat Against East Indies
p. 17 · Read in the full issue
a DEMAND that Holland should sell A Dutch New Guinea to Japan was voiced by the newspaper “Osaka Asahi”, in February. It said that the Dutch ’ Pacific possessions are the next area to be conquered after China.
In a truculent editorial the “Asahi” warns Holland that “she is expected to become conscious of the new situation in the Pacific”.
Foreign correspondents believe that the “Asahi” reflects the Government’s in tentions more accurately than Mr. Arita,
who said that the bases on the island
Oo."S
were t 0 be used againSt ° hma ° nly ’
Attitude Of Dutch
The tak mg steps to strengthen its aeiences the East Indies.
E Briggs, of Sydney University, who recently spent some time in the East In dies found that the Dutch were ajnx ious to deal with the problem of j apane se penetration into Dutch New Guinea. They were no longer prepared to grant concessions to the Japanese, who had leased areas in the north for cotton growing.