WAR UNLIKELY

Southland Times, Issue 21716, 31 May 1932, Page 5

WAR UNLIKELY

RUSSIA AND JAPAN NO IMMINENT DANGER SEEN UNFOUNDED REPORTS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) 1( _ Geneva, May 29. “I believe there is no imminent danger of a Russo-Japanese war,” s<?id Mr Matsuidira (Japan) when interviewed. “The notion is only a nightmare created by pessimists with an exaggerated imagination. Japan has no intention of making trouble unless Russia takes the offensive. Japanese troops were only sent to Harbin and Imienpao to protect Japanese lives and property from Chinese bandits, and they will be withdrawn when that purpose is accomplished. It is absurd to think the Japanese will use the White Russians to assist them in Manchuria. The White Russians’ inability to take charge of the development of Russia was proved many years ago, and common sense should show the impossibility of Japan invading Russia.” Interrogated concerning the Communistic allegation that the great Powers were preparing for war on the Soviet under Japanese guidance in order to ruin the five-year plan and save Japan’s financial and industrial supremacy, Mr Matsuidira replied: “Such a pretension is absolutely unfounded. It is so much out of the question that I cannot reply seriously to it.”