JAPAN AND AXIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23340, 8 May 1939, Page 11

JAPAN AND AXIS

NOTE- TO PARTNERS DEFENSIVE AGREEMENTS LIMITATION T„0 FAR EAST THIRD POWERS IN CHINA By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 7, 5.5 p.iii.) LONDON, May 0 The Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Hachiro Arita, has sent a Note to Italy and Germany proposing defensive agreements in the nature of mutual assistance against aggression, rather than true military alii ances, says the Tokio correspondent of the Havas news agency. The Notes say Japan is prepared to undertake military agreements for defence against Kussia in Far East, but refuses to be dragged in elsewhere in the world.

The Notes contain the substance of instructions cabled to the Japanese Ambassadors in Rome and Berlin on the eve of the meeting between Count Ciano and Herr von Ribbentrop. Mr. Arita, speaking to the International Affairs Association, reaffirmed Japan's faith in the Anti-Communist - Pact, but said that Japan's imperial "way" differed from those of the democracies and the totalitarian States. , . Mr. Arita added that Japan would never use the Anti-Communist Pact to make an enemy of any country. Her policy remained independent. She had no intention of driving third Powers from China, realising that it would be practically impossible.