JAPAN AND AMERICA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 251, 31 July 1940, Page 6

JAPAN AND AMERICA.

TRYING TO AVOID FRICTION. THE REPORTED POLICY. • LONDON, July 30. The Tokio newspaper, “Yomiuri,” says that the Japanese Foreign Minister (Mr Matsuoka) intends avoiding friction in Japanese-Americau relations, while being “in perfect readiness for the worst.” The newspaper declares that Mr Matsuoka has offered the post of Ambassador to the United States to Mr Moshisuke Aikawa, president of the Manchuria Heavy Industry Company, replacing Mr Horinouchi. The Japanese Foreign Office spokesman (Mr Y. Sum a) said that the United States Assistant - Secretary of State had assured the. Japanese Ambassador in Washington that the licensing of exports of oil and scrap iron by the United States did not constitute an anti-Japanese embargo. Japan understood officially that the order was aimed at restricting the export of vital defence materials, and it would not affect Japan gravely. A Hong Kong report that Japanese forces, continuing operations designed to close ail ports through which war materials might reach the Chinese armies and guerillas, landed at Swabue at dawn. The Japanese also advanced inland and attacked Chinese holding the town of Chenhai.

A Shanghai message says that the United States Consul-General in Shanghai (Mr Butrick) visited the Japanese Consul-General (Major-General Miura) and expressed regret for the incident in which Japanese detectives and some United States marines were involved. Major-General Miura accepted this as a satisfactory settlement and withdrew the claims for compensation. The Moscow radio says that Japanese officials have installed a post office at Shanghai, in the French Concession, and intend to censor all mail.

WARNINGS AT SHANGHAI.

AMERICANS’ PRECAUTIONS. (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) SHANGHAI, July 30. The American Consulate at midnight warned six prominent American residents of Shanghai, whose expulsion had been “ordered" yesterday fortnight by the Nanking Government, to take precautions because the Japanese police might seek their arrest. It. is understood that the American authorities are seriously viewing the warning to Mr Allcott because the expiration of his term coincides with the anticipated announcement of a new policy by the Prime Minister of Japan (Prince Konove).