Japanese See Road to Victory

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 172, 24 July 1939, Page 7

Japanese See Road to Victory

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Sunday, 9.20 p.m. TOKIO, July 22. It is officially stated from Tokio that the Foreign Office has announced an agreement on the general background of the Tientsin situation and a statement is being issued simultaneously in Tokio and London on Monday. The agreement resulted after 45 minutes’ conversations between Sir Robert Craigie and Mr. Arita. The Japanese Prime Minister (Mr. Hiranuma) told the press that the conference has passed the crisis. He added that the basic principle evolved'applied to the whole of China and was not limited to Tientsin. This should be clear to Britain: “British lights and interests in China can be recognised only if Britain recognises the relations, mutual aid and intcr-dependcncc between Japan, Manchukuo and China. Britain is unlikely to assist Marshal Chiang Kai-shek by credits, otherwise such action will be regarded as hostile to Japan. “The deprivation of British credits will prevent China buying munitions. The Anglo-Japaneso basic agreement will not only provide a big shock to the Chungking Government, but will also serve favourably in disposing of the China incident. 1 expect Britain to bring home the spirit of the new arrangements not only to the British authorities in China, but also to the British nation generally.” Regarding the anti-Britisli agitation in Japan, Mr. Hiranuma concluded: “The Government will control that campaign, which counters its policy now that the Auglo-Japancse Conference has made such progress. “Japan has already formulated a basic policy towards the European situation and will pursue it irrespective of the outcome of the Tokio parley.” The British United Press Agency learns that Britain has recognised the necessity for a Japanese army in China in order to maintain peace, which Tokio interprets as a recognition of the war conditions. The Tokio-London statement will be issued at 2 p.m. British Standard Time on Monday. London regards Mr. Hiranuma’s statement reservedly. Sir Roger Keys; speaking at Norwood, declared that, if Britain made it clear that she would most strongly retaliate, Japan dare not force a conflict with the British Empire. Japan’s navy in Eastern waters is at present infinitely more powerful than ours, but Japan must be aware that, if Germany forced a war with the British Empire she would be overwhelmingly defeated, after which the rising sun of Japan would be eclipsed as surely as night followed day.