JAPAN’S FINAL APPEAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 145, 4 June 1936, Page 7

JAPAN’S FINAL APPEAL

Revision of Australian Duties

MINISTERS UNCONCERNED (Received 4, 9.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, June 3. The Consul-General for Japan, Mr Murai, paid an unexpected visit to Melbourne to interview the Minister in charge of Trade Treaties, Sir Henry Gullett.

Neither divulged the trend of the conversation, but it is believed Mr Murai submitted a new communication from the Japanese Government, containing a final appeal for a revision of the new duties, failing which retaliation would follow.

At present Australia is not concerned at such threats, the Federal Ministers believing that Australia holds the controlling hand, Japan being a large importer of wool and wheat only. In a subsequent address at a public meeting, Sir Henry Gullett said that Australia did not desire to include Japanese goods. More than half of Australia's requirements of artificial silk, and a large proportion of her cotton piece goods would be left for Japanese exporters. All Australia claimed was that this great market could not be given entirely to a country which, cutside wool and wheat, was :t small purchaser of Australian produce. It was far better io show courage now than to allow tho competition to become unmanageable, he said. The action was merely defensive.