AGAINST COMMUNISM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 308, 26 November 1936, Page 9

AGAINST COMMUNISM

JAPAN AND GERMANY. TREATY ANNOUNCED. “NO OTHER AGREEMENT.” (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received November 26, 10.15 a.m. BERLIN, Nov. 25. It is officially stated that Germany and Japan liavo concluded an agreement against the Communist International. The agreement will be operative in five months. It declares that the aim of the Communist International is the violation of all existing States by every means ; also, that Communism threatens world peace. The signatories agree, firstly, to inform each other of all Communist activities and to discuss co-operative defensive measures.

Secondly, to invite other Powers to join the agreement. ,An additional protocol pledges the signatories, firstly, to punish severely Communist operatives; secondly, to establish a standing commission in order to decide defensive measures. The text of the agreement was announced to a meeting of foreign diplomats at the AVilhelmstrasse, to which the Soviet Ambassador was not invited. .

A Tokio message says the Japanese Foreign Office has issued a statement that the Japanese-German agreement is not directed against the Soviet Union.

It denies that any other agreement is behind it, or that the Japanese Government intends forming or joining any international bloc, but drastically condemns the Comintern, which, it says, since its establishment has engaged in activities menacing world peace. It adds that the Comintern, last year, decided to organise a unified front to oppose Fascism and Imperialism, and made it clear that its future objectives were Japan, Germany, and Polanel. It was also resolved to support the Chinese Communist armies against Japan. The statement concludes:—Japan desires to co-operate with as many Powers as possible in defensive measures against the Comintern menace, but, for that purpose alone