OFFICIAL FRIENDLINESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 11

OFFICIAL FRIENDLINESS.

AMERICA AND JAPAN. HO MATTERS IN DISPUTE. IRRESPONSIBLE AGITATORS I SOME IN BOTH COUNTRIES. ALLAYING THE IRRITATION. | By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received 7.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. WASHINGTON. Dec. IS. The Washington correspondent of the j Australian and New Zealand Press Association states; that the Administration today took prompt, action to side-track the resolution introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr. F. A. Britten, a member of the House Naval Affairs Committee. The resolution requests the President, Mr. Calvin Ccolidge, to call i a conference of representatives of all I white races bordering on the Pacific to ! consider a defensive policy against pos- I sible Japanese aggression. J High officials have deplored as not true | Mr; Britten's dangerous statement that | Japan is preparing for war. They said j the feeling between the two Governments i was one of complete friendliness and understanding despite the efforts of illadvised groups in each country to stir up i trouble. Mr. Britten said the attitude of Japan j before the League of Nations and its op- j position to American principles was the I •justification of the resolution, which also charged officials with insisting that | Japan's attitude toward the League's j disarmament protocol was not aimed at the United States. Complete Accord With Japan. A member of the Administration said that Japan was in fact the only Power with which the United States Government had no disagreement at the moment.. There were several matters upon which, the Administration was negotiating with Britain, France, Italy and other countries, but with the-Japan-ese Government there was complete accord. It. was admitted that the exclusion of j Japanese immigrants from the United j States was still used by certain elements ; in Japan to arouse feeling, hut the Japanese Government, while deploring the form of tho Exclusion Act. which < was also opposed by Mr. Coolidge, considered the matter closed. The official continued that a new spirit j of co-operation had arisen in tho Far East. Japan, Britain and tho United j States were working together for the j solution of problems in tho Pacific, and j any conference of white nations, as proposed by Mr. Britten, would destroy ; that co-operation and play into the hands of the belligerent elements in each country which sought to emphasise the conflict between the white and yellow races. Leaders of the Administration emphatically state, on. tho basis of careful official reports, that the Japanese Gov- j ernment, neither wants nor expects war j with the United States, and is actively pursuing a policy of peace. The in- | flammatory statements in Japanese news- ! papers are attributed as a reply to the agitation here for a bigger navy. Moreover, the • anti Japanese propaganda, which is exaggerated, i.s quoted in • the Japanese press. Promoting Cordial Relations. **n.The Government, whose officials have been puzzled and somewhat disturbed by the discussion concerning relations between the United States and Japan, is taking steps to promote an era of most cordial relations between the two countries. The Secretary of State, Mr. C. E. Hughes, departing from precedent, issued a formal .statement taking notice of the appointment of the. Ambassador. Baron Matsnkaira, to Washington, and welcoming him as a step toward further cementing the friendship between Japan and the United States. A message from Tokio says Baron Matsnkaira,' in an interview, stated that be would strive his utmost to promote friendly relations between America and Japan. He asked for the co-operation of the Japanese press in his attempt to solve problems affecting the two conn-