JAPAN DISSATISFIED AT PLAYING SUBORDINATE PART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15685, 12 August 1914, Page 7

JAPAN DISSATISFIED AT PLAYING SUBORDINATE PART.

BRITISH TERRITORY CONSIDERED IN JEOPARDY.

CABINET AND ELDER STATESMEN CONSIDERING POSITION

(Received August 11, 11.40 p.m.)

London, August 10. A startling message was received in London to-day, beginning "Japan has issued an ultimatum. in conformity with — " Hero tho message was broken off, the message having been censored. Later tho Japanese Ambassador said he considered tho report that an

ultimatum has been issued by Japan to bo false. Prolonged councils of the Cabinet and the Elder Statesmen ' have excited public opinion.

The newspapers strongly advocate war. . They arc impatient that Japan is apparently playing a subordinate part.

After quoting the first article of the Anglo-Japanese alliance tho newspaper Asahi Shimbun says tho question of the necessity of Japan's help depends on the interpretation of this article, and British territory in the Orient being already in jeopardy, the time has arrived for Japan to act.

But apart from our obligations it is imperative .that wo should realise that the crisis is already here. Tientsin advices state that three Japanese who were caught sketching the fortifications at Tsing-to were &hot by Germans.