JAPAN’S POLICY STATED

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23088, 2 August 1940, Page 9

JAPAN’S POLICY STATED

AIM IN FOREIGN

RELATIONS

DEMOCRACIES AND AXIS

NOT MENTIONED

(mritiD paisa issoouno*— eoptaioarj

(Received August 1, 11.10 p.m.)

LONDON, August 1,

A Tokyo message reports the Japanese Foreign Minister (Mr Matsuoka) as saying that the immediate aim of Japan’s foreign policy was to establish "a great East Asian chain of common prosperity with Japan, MatichUkuo. and China grouped as one of the links.” ' , . . He said that Japan was resolved to surmount all obstacles, material and spiritual. He did not mention the axis, the democracies, the East Indies, nor the South Seas. - - . 1v “In concert with those friendly Powers Which are prepared to co-op-erate with us. we should strive with courage and determination for the fulfilment of the ideal and heaven-or-dained mission of our country—the enabling of all nations and races to And each its proper place in the world,” he added, m , Another message from Tokyo says that Japan has announced. the construction of a new order m Greater East Asia, having- for its foundation the solidarity of Japan, Munchukuo, and China, as the basic aim Of her foreign policy. .. The statement said that the policy of fulfilment Would be swiftly to establish “ah unshakeable national structure of her own, adapted to meet requirements and new developments both at home and abroad,” 111 this connexion, “the world stands at a great, historic turning point.. It is about to witness the creation of new forms of government, economy, and culture, bused on the growth and development of sundry groups in history. in order to carry out fully at this juncture our national policy in accordance with the lofty spirit on which the country Js founded, it is an important task of urgent necessity that we should grasp the Inevitable trends in the developments in world history and effect speedily fundamental renovations in all lilies of government and strive for the perfection of State structures fur national defence.”.

The. statement said that the “foreign policy which aims ultimately at the construction of a new order in Greater East Asia" would be. directed primarily toward complete settlement of the China affair and the advancement of the national fortune "by taking a fat-sighted view of tile drastic changes in the international situation and formulating constructive and flexible measures.’’

It emphasised that under internal administration it was necessary (1) to complete the renovation of education; <2) to establish a new national structure; (3) to renovate the Diet to adapt such a structure; (4) to reform the bureaucracy; (5) to lay a foundation for national defence and economy based on a Japan-Manehufeuo-dhitia bloc, with japan as the centre; (6) to renovate foreign trade; (7)' to expand heavy chetnical-and machine industries.

BRITONS HELD CAPTIVE

“NEXT MOVE WITH

JAPAN”

(Received August 1, 10 p.m.)

LONDON, August 1,

It is authoritatively stated in London that the next move following the British protest at the arrest of British subjects by Japan lies with the Japanese Government. The position is uiilikelv to remain Static.,

Four of the British subjects arrested have nuw beeh released. These ate Messrs R. T. Holder, president of the British Association, Kobe; 11. M. Mac r Nalighloh, Honorary Consul for Greece, F, A. Jonas, a Kobe lawyer, and E. G. Price. Nine Britons remain In custody, and it is reported that another, Mr T. Ely. managing direetor of an oil company in Yokohama, has been detained. It is pointed ‘out in London that many of the men arrested have given years to Improving relations between Japan and Great Britain, Members of the Japan Society in London are not treated with suspicion, nor .is their organisation regarded as a hotbed of espionage. . . . ~ The Shanghai correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain reports that Mr Russell Brines, a member of the staff of the Associated Press of Great Britain, is held in a Tokyo ; hotel by the Japanese Military police, apparently for questioning in connexion with his dispatches on Mr Coxs death and the' arrests of Britons, The Dome! News Agency says that Mr Reiman Morin, chief of the Tokyo Bureau of the Associated Press of Great Britain, was questioned about dispatches reporting Mr Cox's death which intimated that Mr Cox had not committed suicide. He was released after several hours. The espionage round-up has also spread to Tientsin. Japanese gendarmes visited and questioned a woman officer in the British concession without the permission of the British police. The Japanese also questioned Major G. H. Walker, at Pei Ta-ho. The spokesman at the Japanese Foreign Office (Mr Y. Suma) s&id: “The recent round-up of British espionage suspects was inude for the explicit purpose of eliminating all persons and organisations engaged in spying on military secrets in the Japanese Empire. It is entirely unreasonable of Britain to make any sdrt of protest against this country in connexion with these arrG“Opinion to the effect that the recent round-up is insufficiently supported by evidence is entirely incorrect, for sufficient evidence is in possession of competent authorities, but as the matter is still under investigation I am not in a position to disclose it. The round-up is entirely justified for it is a step taken toward those who spied on military secrets which vitally concern the existence of the Japanese Empire. THE BURMA ROAD RIGHTS GRANTED TO JAPAN (BBITISH D7IICIAI. WXKELSSS.) RUGBY, July 31. Asked in the House of Commons about the rights granted to the Japanese respecting traffic on the Burma road, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. ISiitler) said that the recent agreement did hot grant a right of inspection to the Japanese authorities in Burma. There was no Japanese diplomatic staff in Burma, There was only a Japanese Consulate situated in Rangoon.