THE ANGLO-JAPANESE PACT

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 48, 25 February 1921, Page 6

THE ANGLO-JAPANESE PACT

SIR JOHN FINDLAY'S INTERVIEW

INCOEEECTLY REPORTED,

(UHITKB PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN - NEW ZEALAND CAILB ASSOCIATION.) (Received February 25, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON. 24th February. Sir John Findlay informs the Australian Press Agency that his declaration recently cabled, although published in the form of a signed article, really was an interview, in which he was incorrectly reported. The statement should read .': "Australasia objects emphatically to the renewal of the Japanese Treaty accompanied by . amendments in tthe direction of relaxation of the Australasian immigration laws, which were rumoured to be imminent through Japanese pressure on Britain."

Sir John Findlay, though he took no steps lo correct the previous articles, added that when interviewed^ he discussed the fears which were widely entertained in Australia antl New Zealand'that Japan wa-i attempting to modify the treaty in zt-j direction of providing an ever-widening' door for immigration. It would be idle to object to the Treaty in its present form, under which Japanese immigrants were excluded from Australasia. He considered Australasians do not realise the. fall extent of the menace from Japan, which it is authoritatively estimated will have a, population of 120,000,000 half a century hence. j

[The following, cable message was received from London on the 11th in»t. :— Sir John Findlay, in an article in the press, says New Zealand and Australia, while appreciating Japan's assistance in the war, have resolved to remain white, men's countries. They had prepared plans of a big scheme, firstly of Imperial, and secondly of European immigration, barring Germans and Russians. Tho scheme will presently be launched.- They object emphatically to a renewal of the Anglo/Japanese Treaty, which is unjustified, sine© the German and Russian menaces have been removed, and America is ready to make common cause in the event of a Japanese peril. The question must be properly thrashed out at the coming Imperial Conference.]