MORE DETAILS WANTED

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 5 January 1935, Page 5

MORE DETAILS WANTED

Alleged Ban on Visit to Japanese Islands COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES REPORT BY COMMISSION (United Press Association —By E'/ictrtc Telegraph Copyright). Received 10.45 a.m. to-day. GENEV A, Jan. 4. The (Mandates Commission’s report to the Council, concerning allegations that Japan had prohibited foreign vessels visiting 'and using the harbours of certain of its mandated islands in the Pacific, in referring to Mr lto’s statement that sums spent were purely for civil commercial purposes, says it appears that the amount of expenditure was somewhat disproportionate to the volume of the commercial activities. The commission would like further particulars.

A cable from Geneva dated November 5, stated that the Mandates Commission had discussed startling allegations that Japan had prohibited foreign vessels visiting and using the harbours of certain of its mandated islands in the Pacific. Delegates questioned the Japanese representative, Mr Ito, regarding reports that an American astronomical expedition was refused perrifission to visit the islands to observe the eclipse of me sun, pointing out that if they were true, they lent colour to stories that the Japanese were fortifying the islands. Mr Ito, in a soriicwhat reserved reply, declared that Japan itself organised an expedition to view the eclipse and invited foreigners to accompany it. He proposed to investigate specific cases. (Members then suggested that Japan could easily prove her sincerity by allowing foreign vessels to call and inspect the islands. Mr Ito did not reply. . <\ .i Mill