EAST AND WEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 145, 21 June 1935, Page 7

EAST AND WEST.

CLOSE RELATIONS. Influence of Britain and Japan On World Affairs. DEPARTING AMBASSADOR. (British. Official Wireless.) (Received 2 p.m.)' RUGBY, June 20. The Foreign Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, in bidding farewell lo the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Matsudaira, and his wife, at a dinner given by the Japan society prior to their departure for their own country, laid stress upon Britain's desire to remove the difficulties between the two enterprising races which, Avith those difficulties rightly determined, would leave their mark on the world's history. Sir Samuel added that no one could better interpret the views of Japan to Britain and those of Britain to Japan than Mr. Matsudaira. The two great island Powers had much in common.. Relations between Britain and Japan had been entirely free from disturbance in recent times, but sometimes difficulties might arise, and on such occasions they should discuss them as friends, so that each should understand the point of view of the other.

He made passing reference to recent reports from North China, and hoped the Ambassador on his return to Japan would assure the people there that there were many men and women in Britain who wished to see difficulties removed, just as he was sure there were largo numbers of men and women in Japan who entertained the same wish and regarded a proper understanding and collaboration between the two countries as essential, hot only to the stability of Asia, but to the prosperity of the whole world. Mr. Matsudaira urged the value of candour and contact in dispelling misunderstandings. ' He emphasised tho importance of Anglo-Japanese friendship. The High Commissioner for Australia, Mr. S. M. Bruce, said the whole future of the East and the Pacific depended upon the relations between Britain and Japan.