JAPAN AND DOMINION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19289, 30 March 1926, Page 15

JAPAN AND DOMINION.

GREETINGS EXCHANGED. SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION. "JEALOUS DIPLOMACY DECAYED." [BY TELEGRAM. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] | WELLINGTON. Monday. On the occasion of his first visit to New Zealand, the Consul-General of Japan at Sydnay, Mr. Iyemasa Tokugawa, called on the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, and personally delivered the following message from the Prime Minister of Japan:— " The visit to New Zealand of Mr. Iyemasa Tokugawa, Consul-General of Japan at Sydney, furnishes to Mr. Reijiro Wakatsuki, Prime Minister of Japan, an opportunity of which he desires to take advantage to recall the heroic days when the forces of New Zealand and Japan were arrayed together to secure peace and justice as the only guarantee of tho safe and harmonious development of civilisation. Peace and justice have been attained and it is Mr. Wakatsuki's firm conviction, strengthened by the recent progress of events, that New Zealand and Japan will now co-operate with all their might m the free atmosphere thus created to further the welfare and progress of mankind by the encouragement of sound business, the increase of trade and commerce, the promotion of mutual knowledge and individual good relations, and by every other means calculated to improve the condition of humanity. " New Zealand has always been noted for her enterprise 111 dealing with the problems presented by modern commerce. Japan has much to gain from more frequent and familiar intercourse with her, and she modestly hopes that the gain may be reciprocal. The old jealous diplomacy is decayed and disappearing. It is an outworn relic of tribal barbarism. Modern statesmanship realises that tho nations of the earth are one family aud that each finds its truest advantage in the prosperity of all. ' Relying on this, we may fearlessly face the future and make the Pacific a region of new hope for the muchtried world."

The following reply has been sent by the Hon. J. G. Coates, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister of Japan:—

" The New Zealand Government has received with much gratification your message, which has been personally delivered by Mr. lyemasa Tokugawa, ConsulGeneral at Sydney. Ministers greatly appreciate the cordial and friendly'sentiments to which expression is therein given. New Zealand will ever remember with gratitude the assistance of the Japanese JNavy in the transport of her military forces in the early stages of the Great War. and her alliance with the British nation throughout the whole of those anxious years. Mew Zealand will be glad to co-operate with Japan in everything that makes for the uplift of humanity and for the maintenance of most friendly relations between our two countries. If the nations Whoso shores border on the Pacific Ocean are animated by similar feelings there is no reason to fear for the future peace and prosperity of their citizens."