JAPAN'S REPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 233, 1 October 1937, Page 7

JAPAN'S REPLY.

PROTESTS BY POWERS.

BOMBING OF NON-COMBATANTS.

ONUS ON FOREIGNERS TO FIND SAFETY

NOTICE OF ATTACKS GIVEN BY INVADER.

(I niti'd Pres« Association.—Copyright.— Rec. 1.30 p.m.)

LONDON, September 30. Mr. Koki Hirota, Japanese Foreign Minister, has sent an identical Note to Britain. France and the United States, in which he affirms that Nanking is the centre of Chinese defence and it is unavoidable that military establishments should be bombed 1 here .s no indiscriminate bombing of non-combatants, he states warnings to whom were issued with requests for the Powers'* co-operation. This is a safeguard which is proof of Japan's solicitude for the safety of lives and property of foreign nationals. The text of the Note published makes it plain that Japan regards the campaign as a military necessity and will continue it. Indiscriminate bombing of civilian populations is denied and the

™ t""" d L ,h " J a P an i» under a considerable militarj handicap due to the warnings which she gives of her bombing intentions.

The Note ,s non-committal concerning indemnification of foreigners for property destruction and the net effect of the commun.ot.on „ to reaffirm the Japanese position that she aW without regard to protests, must decide what is right.