SIDE ISSUE ONLY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20489, 25 February 1941, Page 7

SIDE ISSUE ONLY

MEDIATION TALK ATTITUDE IN TOKIO . MESSAGE TO MR. EDEN WISH TO END HOSTILITIES AID THROUGHOUT WORLD (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Feb. 25, 9 a.m.) TOKIO, Feb. 24. The Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister, Mr. Ohashi, substituting for the Foreign Minister, Mr. Yosuke Matsuoka, told the deficit and bonds committee of the House of Representatives that mediation discussion was a side issue resulting from Mr. Matsuoka's reply to the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, in which Mr. Matsuoka said that any crisis in the Far East would not be of Japan’s making since Japan was interested in the restoration of peace. Expression of Peace Desire Mr. Ohashi said that Mr. Eden made a “proposal,” regarding reports that Japan would move southward, which Mr. Matsuoka denied,, adding that the objection of the tripartite pact was to prevent a “further spread of war.” Mr. Ohashi added: “Mr. Matsuoka told Mr. Eden that Japan desires it possible to contribute toward ending hostilities throughout the world, pointing out that the mediation in the Indo-China —Thailand dispute was au expression of such a desire. Mr. Matsuoka has not made a mediation offer in the European war. He said that Japan was doing the utmost to end the Sino-Japanese hostilities, as soon as possible.” Mr. Ohashi declined to comment on Japan’s plans for mediation in the event of her being requested to act. He said that Mr. Matsuoka’s message to Mr. Eden would be published at the “proper opportunity.”