U.S. REPLY TO JAPAN

Press, Issue 22599, 3 January 1939, Page 9

U.S. REPLY TO JAPAN

PROPOSALS FOR CHINA REJECTED WAY LEFT OPEN FOR CONVERSATIONS RETALIATION URGED BY TRADE INTERESTS. (UNITED PHES3 ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received January 2, 7.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, December 31. ’The United ‘States has flatly rejected Japan’s proposed “new order” in China, but has tacitly invited Japan and the other Powers concerned to negotiate about a possible revision of foreign rights and interests.

The latest Note made public in Washington charges Japan with unfair discrimination against American trade and commerce with China; also with assuming power and sovereignty in China by armed force in violation of existing treaties which the United States contends are not subject to unilateral denunciation. The Note admitted, however, a possible desirability of changing the treaties and left the door open for international conversations in this connexion.

“Meanwhile,” the Note says, “this Government reserves all the rights of the United States as they exist and does hot give assent to an impairment of any of them.” . The American Chamber of Commerce in Tientsin has sent a cable message to the Government urging retaliatory measures to Japanese discrimination against American trade. The chamber states that the Japanese have imposed an embargo on hemp, wool, and seed oil, and have established a virtual cotton monopoly in Tientsin. They are now planning restrictions on the importation of tobacco, food products, and canned goods. The chamber requests restrictions against Japanese and North China imports, similar to the Japanese restrictions in North China.

JAPANESE MINISTERS*

MESSAGE MORE SEVERE RESTRICTIONS AGAINST COMMUNISM (Received January 2, 7.10 p.m.) TOKYO, December 31.

The Prime Minister (Prince Konoye), the Foreign Minister (Mr H. Arita), and the Minister for the Navy (Admiral Yonai) issued a New Year message emphasising the necessity for more severe restrictions throughout Japan to exterminate Communism and emancipate the Far East from “Western bondage.” The message deplores assistance by third Powers to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, interfering with the Japanese work of reconstruction in China.

SHIP’S CREW HELD BY JAPANESE SUSPECTED OF VIOLATION OF TERRITORIAL WATERS TOKYO, December 30. The police have detained the captain, two British mates, and 44 Chinese members of the crew of the freighter, Hannah Moller, on suspicion of having violated territorial waters.) I , CONCILIATORY MOVE IN CHINA (Received January 2, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, December 31. The Hong Kong correspondent of “The Times” says that Dr. Wang Ching-wei’s followers, during his absence in parte ' isscz&c} his statement to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek recapitulating Japan’s peace terms and recommending them as a basis for discussion; but insisting on a preliminary total withdrawal of Japanese forces from China.

The Chinese, as a whole, deplore Dr. Wang’s attitude.