JAPAN TALKS OF PEACE

Southland Times, Issue 24574, 24 October 1941, Page 5

JAPAN TALKS OF PEACE

TOJO OFFERS TO MEDIATE “NOT ANYBODY’S TOOL” (Rec. 6.50 p.m.) NEW YORK, October 22. The Tokyo correspondent of The New York Times, Otto D. Tolischus, says that while Tokyo was blacked out during the defence manoeuvres The Japan Times, using authoritative language, reiterates an offer to mediate in the world war “while ready to fight the United States, if necessary. Japan prefers worldwide peace and despite the Axis partnership it is the only strong and independent nation able to mediate. This is the last chance to use Japan to explore a way to peace —Japan is the balancing power whose decision is able to plunge the Pacific into chaos.” The Japan Times repudiates the assumption that Japan is under Germany’s thumb and says the Tripartite Pact permits to tender advice to Germany, as well as vice versa. The newspaper says Japan is not anybody s tool. Japan does not stand cap in hand before any nation because the weak plead vainly, whereas the strong demand and get their rights. The Japan Times expresses the hope that America will realize Japan’s great influence and consider the possibility of reciprocal concessions. The paper concludes that much of the current world trouble is due to malign propaganda and excitable publicity and expresses the hope that the Japanese and foreign Press will mend their ways. The Japan -Times-Advertiser says the Tojo Government is prepared to undertake mediation in the European War if the opportunity presents itself. Mr Tolischus says that the new Prime Minister of Japan, General Hideki Tojo, while speeding up national mobilization and expanding the armaments industry, wants to continue negotiations with the United States Administration in an effort to obtain “peace with justice.” WASHINGTON NEGOTIATIONS The Japanese newspapers, explaining General Tojo’s policy, agree on the two following points: (1) Japan desires to bring the Washington negotiations to a successful conclusion. Thus America must change her attitude because Japan’s national policies are immutable. (2) All aggravating actions must be suspended while the negotiations are continuing. Asked in the House of Commons about the two British subjects arrested by the Japanese at Tokyo on September 16, Mr Anthony Eden, the Foreign Secretary, said the British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, had made strong and repeated protests against the refusal of the Japanese authorities to disclose the nature of the charges against these two men or to allow the British Consul to visit them, states a London message. Mr Eden added that he had instructed the Ambassador to take up the matter with the new Japanese Government and to protest energetically for their release.