HOPE OF JAPAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 41, 18 February 1941, Page 7

HOPE OF JAPAN

SOLVING VITAL ISSUES

PRESSURE RESENTED

RIGHTsVsOUTH SEAS

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received February 18, 11.30 a.m.)

TOKIO, February 17.

The Domei news agency reports the Vice-Foreign Minister, Mr. Chnishi Ohayshi, as replying to questions by the House of Representative^ Accounts Committee as follows:—

"Although our rights and interests in the South Seas are vital questions we hope to settle them without resorting to force." . "Widespread reports that Japan is planning imminent action in the South Seas," apparently produced the Washington, conference held by the United States Secretary of State with envoys from Britain, Australia, . and the Netherlands, Mr. Ohayshi continued. "These nations," he said, "seem to be ; intent upon suppressing Japan." j. "However," he continued, "if any nation increases pressure against Japan because of these misreports Japan will be obliged to face the issue, which might cause serious consequences." OBJECTS OF HINTS. According to the Domei agency Mr. Ohayshi's reference to increasing pressure was interpreted to mean the reported concentration of British troops near the Thai border. Simultaneously Mr. Ohayshi delivered what observers said may have been a hint against' increased American naval forces at Manila by saying, "Japan is interested in the Philippines as a friendly neighbour and therefore desires that the islands will not endanger Japan in the future." Mr. Ohayshi said that the economic conference between Japan and the Netherlands East Indies would reopen soon at Batavia as a result of conversations between himself and the Netherlands Minister, General Pabst. j The conversations had been suspended for some time because "the Dutch attitude was not at first auspicious and because misleading reports led to increased tension in the East Indies." IMPORTATION OF GERMANS. The Foreign Minister, Mr. Matsuoka, has asked the public to support the importation of German 'technicians and experts for other exceptional undertakings under the joint economic and military commission which were; termed necessary from the viewpoint j of the construction of the "greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere." Mr. Matsuoka also said that. Japan firmly believed in racial quality, even more so than she had done at the Treaty of Versailles. His reference to i the Netherlands East Indies included j an admission that they refused to join j an Asiatic bloc under Japan's leader-1 ship. Mr. Matsuoka's comment was that Japan did not claim leadership of all the peoples within this sphere, but he added that he believed she possessed the capabilities for such leadership.

The question of Japan's relations with Russia was raised in the Diet when one member urged Mr. Matsuoka to make a demarche -to the Soviet Government about the activities of the Comintern. In reply, Mr. Matsuoka pointed out that the Comintern was not identical with the Soviet Government, but he promised to take steps if the Comintern caused trouble.