POLICY FOR JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26528, 17 September 1951, Page 7

POLICY FOR JAPAN

Advice Of U.N. Commander

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) TOKYO, Sept. 15. General Ridgway told the Japanese people to-day that he had no doubt they would align themselves with the world's tree peoples rather than follow the Communist road —leading to destruction or enslavement.

General Ridgway, who was making a special statement on the Japanese Peace Treaty, said Japan could confidently expect the ratification of the treaty signed at San Francisco early this month. The free nations had affirmed their trust in Japan. The treaty was the first step in restoring Japan to an honoured place of equality. “The profound significance of the occasion of the signing of the peace treaty impels me to address these remarks to you. the Japanese people, among whom I have the honour to live as the senior responsible official of the American Government in Japan.” General Ridgway said now was a good time to look as far ahead along the road as possible—the road which the Japanese had followed faithfully for six years since the end of the war. “It is a road to a positive objective. It won’t be an easy road, but it will also be a road of hope. It is a road the free peoples are travelling. “It is a road which, however long and difficult the journey and however arduous and prolonged the sacrifice, alone leads those who follow it to honourable national existence as an equal and free member in the family of free nations."

Jaoan had built the first foundations for a new democratic free society out of the wreckage of war, said General Ridgway. “In doing so you have added greatly to the strength and solidarity of all free peoples, fdr the triumph of freedom anywhere represents a victory for free men and women everywhere.”