MR. ARITA’S STATEMENT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 175, 19 April 1940, Page 10

MR. ARITA’S STATEMENT

•Mr. Arita's statement, which was made in Tokio on Monday, was reported in Hie following cablegram received in Wellington by the Aeting-Consui-General for Japan. Mr. N. Nakafuji:— On being questioned by newspaper men concerning Japan’s position witli regard to possible involvement of Netherlands in European war and its repercussions in Netherlands East Indies, tlie Foreign Minister. Mr. Arita. replied as follows: "Witli the South Seas regions, especially live Netherlands East. Indies. Japan is economically bound by an intimate relationship of mutuality in ministering to one another’s need. Similarly, other countries of East Asia maintain close economic relations witli these regions. That is to say, Japan, the other Eastern countries, and these regions together are contributing to the prosperity of East Asia through mutual aid and interdependence. "Sliould tlie hostilities in Europe be extended to Hie Netherlands and produce repercussions, as you say, in tlie Netherlands East Indies, it would not only interfere will) the maintenance mid furtherance of tlie above-men-tioned relations of economic interdependence and of co-existence mid coprosperity, lint would also give rise to an undesirable situation from tlie standpoint of lhe pence mid stability of East Asia. "lit view of these considerations tlie Japanese Government cannot tint lie deeply concerned over any development accompanying aggravation of Hie war in Europe that may affect Hie status quo of the Netherlands East Indies.”