JAPANS POLICY STATED

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22823, 23 September 1939, Page 14

JAPANS POLICY STATED

RELATIONS WITH SOVIET CLOSER ASSOCIATION NOT PROPOSED (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received September 22, 2 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 21. The new Japanese Ambassador to Washington (Mr Kensuke Horinouchi) said in a statement: “The Soviet-Japanese agreement ending border warfare was not consummated through Germany’s good offices, and it should not be regarded as a preliminary to a non-aggres-sion p£tet or any move for close association between the Soviet and Japan.” He added that Japan had given friendly advice to England and France to withdraw their troops from China lest (Japan be involved in the European war. Japan’s policy was to avoid entanglement and to concentrate on a settlement of the “China affair.” U.S. WATCHING FAR EAST JAPANESE REPORT OF NAVAL MOVEMENTS (IVDSPBKDEXT CABC.S BEKTICX.) TOKYO, September 22. ,The Tokyo newspaper “Nichi Nichi” states that the United States has assumed the responsibility of watching the interests of the democracies in the Far East. The newspaper says that recently an aircraft carrier was transferred to Manila with 15 heavy bombers, which the United States has decided to replace with new machines, and 15 old submarines. The United States has also decided to advance by several months the 1940 Pacific fleet manoeuvres, build air bases in Alaska, on Midway Island and Johnston Island, and broaden the Panama Canal. ' '

RUMOURS DENIED BY CHINA

(Received September 22, 7.5 p.m.)

CHUNGKING, September 21.

A Chinese Government spokesman emphatically denied peace rumours. “China is not prepared to accept peace overtures not based bn fair terms for all the countries of the Far East,” he said. China would insist on the preservation of her integrity and the cessation of Japanese aggression.

BRITAIN’S WAR SUPPLIES

“GREATER ORGANISATION THAN IN 1914-18”

LONDON, September 21. The Minister for Supply (Mr E. L. Burgin) said in the House of Commons that 68 firms, other than those normally qegaged in making muni-* tions, at pflpsent were producing shells. Seven hundred firms were producing components and the number was increasing daily. The first task was to defend the country against air attacks. Next came equipment for the fighting services, and third, the provision of sufficient reserves and equipment for the expansion of the military forces as the war required.

An immensely greater organisation than in -1914-18 was already constituted and controlled by the Munitions Council with executive powers. , , Since the outbreak of war orders for supplies had been placed exceeding £70,000,000. The Ministry of Supply was in close contact with Mr Lloyd George and the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr Winston Churchill). BRITISH ORDERS FOR AUSTRALIA VALUE OF £100,000,000 ANTICIPATED SYDNEY, September 22. The “Sydney Morning Herald states that British orders already placed for Australian produce this financial year may be worth at least £100,000,000. The total value of exports to Great Britain last year was only £65,000,000-