JAPAN’S CLAIMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22374, 5 July 1947, Page 5

JAPAN’S CLAIMS

TERMS OF PEACE PLEBISCITE WANTED EX-TERRITORIES’ DISPOSAL (10 a.m.) TOKYO. July 5. The father of Japanese politics, Mr. Yukio Ozaki, told the Diet that a plebiscite should be taken to determine the future status of Formosa, Ryukyus, Korea, and Manchuria. The statement from the 90-year-old Mr. Ozaki. who is the oldest, most respected and. perhaps, the most influential member of the Diet, was made in a resolution on the peace treaty which he submitted to the Speaker of the Diet. Mr. Ozaki. in what the Kyodo News Agency describes as the 'most outspoken stand on Japan’s peace treaty, declared that negotiations should break away from past principles and that the peace talks should be based on considerations of fairness. The resolution contained three main points:— (1) That Formosa and the Ryukyus (including Okinawa), Manchuria and Korea be placed under the supervision of the United Nations until peace is restored when a plebiscite should determine whether these people desire their independence or to whom they wish to belong.

(2) Reparations should be based on a calculation of losses incurred by both sides and paid to .the side suffering the heaviest losses. (3) If the victorious nations disregard reasonable considerations in fixing reparations, Japan should oppose the demand by non-co-operation.