ANGER IN JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1924, Page 5

ANGER IN JAPAN.

EXCLUSION FROM AMERICA. CAMPAIGN OF PROTEST. QUESTION NOT CLOSED. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Tokio, July 1. The campaign of protest began today against America’s attitude towards Japan. Initial mass meetings and pilgrimages to the national shrines wece held throughout the country, while everywhere floods of posters and handbills urged the people to maintain an unflinching attitude towards America’s alleged injustice. During the day an unidentified Japanese entered the American Embassy compound, climbed the flagpole, cut down the flag, and escaped before the police arrived. The incident was officially reported by the American Charge d’Affaires. The police are inquiring. In connection with the anti-American campaign, Americans have been warned not to show themselves in the streets too prominently, lest excited individaate should assault them. The handbills, while urging an unflinching attitude towards America, counsel against any deeds of violence. Both Houses of the Diet unanimously adopted resolutions regretting that America had adopted the exclusion clause, declaring that such action impaired seventy years of friendship. The resolution added a hope that the Imperial Government would take sucn steps at an early date as neceesitat?d by the nature of the case. STATEMENT BY PREMIER. The Premier, opening the Diet, expressed regret at America’s exclusion action, for which a reasonable solation would be sought. He promised the speedy enactment of universal suffrage, electoral reform, Upper House reform, and financial retrenchment. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, referring to America, said that Japan could by no means concede that the question was closed until the just contention of the Japanese was satisfied. She would maintain her protest and would use her best endeavours to secure an amicable adjustment of the quest! m to ensure forever the traditional friendship of the two nations. He defended at length Japan’s action regarding Russia and announced that he intended to continue the negotiations now in progress with a view to reaching a satisfactory understanding which must precede the re-establishment of diplomatic relations. Tn reference to China he said that Japan intended to promote a ChinoJapanese economic rapprochement. The guiding principle of Japan’s foreign policy would be to safeguard and promote* her legitimate rights and interests with due respect to other nations and her treaty engagements. The flag incident was made the subject of an interpellation in the Lower House, when the Home Minister promised strict control of demonstrations against America. In connection with the flag incident, Mr. Shidahara expressed to the American Charge d’Affaires his deepest regrets at the incident, adding that he hoped no American would think the act represented the intention of any thoughtful Japanese. Most rigorous measures were being taken to apprehend the offender.