MR. KURUSU THINKS HE HAS CHANCE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 45, 17 November 1941, Page 7

MR. KURUSU THINKS HE HAS CHANCE

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received November 16, 9.20 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 15.

Concluding his trip by air across the Pacific and the United States, the special Japanese envoy to America, Mr. Kurusu, arrived at Washington today. Together with the Japanese Ambassador, Admiral Nomura, he will be received by the Secretary of State, Mr. Hull, on Monday morning. In an interview on his arrival, Mr. Kurusu said: I realize the difficulty of my task, but so long as the United States is sympathetic I think I have a fighting chance of making a success of my mission. Informed quarters in Tokio said the Kurusu mission represented Japan’s last endeavour to break the Pacific crisis, for which reason developments in Washington were most important. They said that in the event of the United States really desiring to maintain peace she/ should recognize Japan’s determination to surmount any obstacles in order to achieve her policies. . It was further pointed out that the special session of the Diet, which the Emperor formally opened this morning, had been convoked to unify the empire’s 100,000,000 people toward coping with any eventuality. . The Diet made a break with precedent by commencing business immediately after the formal opening. The Prime Minister,. General Tojo, and other Ministers presented reports on the China “incident.” President Roosevelt, at his Press conference yesterday, made clear his belief that the Far Eastern situation contained dangerous elements which might lead to war between the United States and Japan. Asked whether war in the Pacific could be avoided, the President replied: “I sincerely trust so.”