"SOLD OUT."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 199, 24 August 1939, Page 11

"SOLD OUT."

FEELING IN JAPAN.

Russo-German Pact Expected To Be Shortlived.

NO HALT TO ASIA. POLICY.

(Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 23.

Tokyo officials are ■ most reserved regarding the Russo-German Pact, but it is commonly complained that Japan has been sold out. The "Asahi Shimbun" predicts that the pact will be shortlived and will merely be used by Germany to assist to solve the Danzig issue. The official spokesman, Mr. T. Kawai, however, asserted that the anti-Comin-tern Pact would not be affected, though he said he was unable to interpret the Russo-German move. Japan, however, expected Germany to provide stipulations to avoid inconsistency with the anti- | Comintern Pact.

The spokesman added that he did not think the pact would affect Japan's fixed policy to create a new order in Eastern Asia.

The Doinei news agency quotes a Foreign Ministry statement that the pact is a master-stroke by Herr Hitler, enabling him to settle the Danzig question while not contravening the antiComintern Pact and not lhanging Japan's policy in Asia.

The Foreign Minister, Mr. Hachiro Arita, in a speech, stressed the necessity for national concentration to achieve Japan's objective in China without outside assistance. He said Japan intends to wipe out third-Power rights and interests in China.