GRIM FATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22946, 26 January 1938, Page 11

GRIM FATE

CHINA_WARNED TOKIO resistance penalty (REDUCED TO ASHES BRITAIN'S INTERESTS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Recoived January 25, 5.5 p.m.) TOKIO, Jan. 24 The House of Peers, the members of which arc described as wellbehaved and seldom known to cheer, applauded when Baron Kozada, referring to Admiral Suetsugu's interview of January 4, suggested that only, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister should comment on diplomatic affairs.

Prince Konoye, Prime Minister, gave a pledge that a more cautious attitude would be adopted in future. Admiral Suetsugu said he regretted that tho interview had been misunderstood owing to its mistranslation.

Continuing, Admiral Suetsugu said: "China will be reduced to ashes if she maintains lier resistance, which would be a misfortune for the outside world, especially Britain. Japan, therefore, thought it would he impossible for wise Britain to assist China, thereby adding to her misfortunes."

'"The white yoke in Asia must go," fa among sensational statements attributed, to Admiral Suetsugu, Japanese Minister of the Interior, quoted in the Paris press from the influential political review, Kaizo, published in Tokio, said a message from Paris on January 4. Admiral Suetsugu, it is alleged, also isaid the mercantile interests of the white nations must vanish. British aid to China must be stopped, even at the cost of a war.

"I refuse to believe that Americans will fight us if we attack Britain," the Admiral is reported to have stated. "The rapid realisation of liberation naturally will bring about a general conflagration, and whatever precautions we take the result will be the same, namely, a general conflagration. Thus fate wills it." The Domei news agency later issued an English translation of the interview, stated that the admiral said: "Japan is aiming at ultimate SinoJapanese co-operation and peace in China.

"Whether or not this means the exclusion of whites is an important question which should mark the turning point in world history. I believe that lasting peace will not be realised unless the coloured races are delivered from the shackles of the white people under which they are living a miserable life. "If China depends solely upon alleged British assistance in continuing the present hostilities, it is inevitable that Japan will stop the fountain-head of resistance, even at the risk of a clash with Britain, but I am inclined to believe that Britain will readily listen to reason."

COSTLY CAMPAIGN JAPAN'S EXPENDITURE ATTACKS ON GOVERNMENT LONDON, Jan. 24 The Tokio correspondent of the Daily Te egraph says Japan's military operations since the beginning of the campaign in China have cost Japan more than £140,000,000. Even if the estimates are not exceeded £400,000,000 will have been spent by March, 1939. A member of the Lower House, who participated in bitter attacks on the Government's financial and industrial policies, declared that bureaucratic control dominated every stratum of the country's economic structure and "red tape" interfered with commercial advancement.

The Government could not obtain a reasonable supply of goods for consumption through watertight control.

These criticisms caused a minor slump on the Stock Exchange. The Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and'the Ministers of War and the Navy hastily met, but announced that no important step would follow the conference. ILLEGAL ENTRY FOREIGN PROPERTIES (Received January 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 24 The Hongkong correspondent of the Daily 2Hail says the British and German Consuls-General at Tsingtao have made representations to Japan regarding illegal entry into the properties of their nationals.

AMERICAN INTERESTS ' TOKIO'S ASSURANCES TOKIO, Jan. 24 Arising from representations made by the American Ambassador, Mr. J. C. Grew, to Mr. Hirota. Foreign Secretary, to stop Japanese trespassers in American establishments at Nanking, the Domei news agency says Japan has already taken steps to prevent incidents there and elsewhere in China "foe police are worried by the distribution throughout Japan of inflammatory Communist literature from the Tln-t'ed States and China.

SYMPATHY WITH CHINA AMBASSADOR'S MESSAGE CHUNKING. Jan. 24 in presenting his credentials the new Soviet Ambassador, M. Orelsky, said was proud to be the bearer of a message from the Soviet conveying its utmost sympathy to China, which Russians hoped would be victorious in the struggle for existence and independence. AIR RAIDS IN SOUTH P HONGIvONG. Jan. 24 Relays ot Japanese warplanes participated in the longest series of air raids J'et experienced in South China. The k> w n$ bombed included Canton, where , People were killed. Chinese anti4lfcraft heavy fire.