JAPAN’S DESIRE FOR PEACE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1933, Page 7

JAPAN’S DESIRE FOR PEACE

WILL ATTEND AT GENEVA IMPORTANT MODIFICATIONS DEFENCE OF ITS EMPIRE ABSENCE OF THE GERMANS By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Rec. 7 p.m., ’ Geneva, March 9. Notifying Japan’s intention to continue to participate in the Disarmament Conference, a Japanese communication to the chairman, Mr. Arthur Henderson, states that Japan’s determination to contribute to the. establishment of permanent universal peace remains unshaken. “We must nevertheless acquaint the conference with the fact that we consider it indispensible to effect various important modifications in the national defence of the Japanese Empire in view of the changed conditions in the Far East,” the letter states. “All relevant circumstances should be taken into account in the future discussion of the disarmament question.” The rapidity with which the European situation changes, mostly for the worse, is indicated by the refusal of Herr Hitler and Baron Neurath to attend the Disarmament Conference. This.is regarded as a serious slight upon Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, especially as the non-attend-ance of the German Foreign Minister during the British Prime Minister’s presence is unprecedented. Moreover, the French Prime Minister is attending. “PEACEFUL INTENTIONS” JAPANESE RELATIONS IN WEST. MR. MATSUOKA VISITS HOLLAND. Rec. 7.15 p.m. The TTsgue, March 9.' After inspecting the Krupp works at Essen, Mr. Matsuoka, who was Japan’s representative at the League of Nations, spent two days at The Hague, where he saw various diplomats and informed journalists he was greatly interested in Japanese migration to Dutch New Guinea, where there was plenty of room for settlers. It would be excellent, he said, if a non-aggression treaty between Holland and Japan was completed in order to demonstrate Japan’s peaceful intentions toward Holland.

An American-Japanese war was absolutely out of the question, Mr. Matsuoka said. The interests of both lay in mutual peace and friendship. Armament firms were solely responsible for the talk of armed conflict between these Powers.