“MERELY GENERAL"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1941, Page 5

“MERELY GENERAL"

I [ I matsuoka meditation offer

MESSAGE TO MR. EDEN.

BRITAIN ASKED TO ACT PRUDENTLY.

TOKIO. February 21. The Domei News Agency says that the Japanese Foreign Minister. Mr. Matsuoka, in an interview with the Japanese Press iate last night, explained that "as Foreign Minister in the Japanese Government he had never specifically offered mediation to any nation in the world for the restoration of world peace.”

Mr. Matsuoka explained that he had sent a memorandum to the British Foreign Minister. Mr. Eden, refuting British claims that Japan sought to dominate the Far East. He emphasised that as Japan was mediating in the Indo-China dispute she was willing to mediate anvwhere else in the world. This was merely a general statement of a peaceful desire and quite different from a specific offer to mediate in Europe. The "Asahi Shimbun" said that Mr. Matsuoka. while informing Britain in general terms of Japan’s willingness to mediate in any conflict, emphasised that if Britain adjusted her military preparedness and engaged in various operations on the supposition that an urgent situation was inevitable in the Pacific and the South Seas, Japan would naturally be compelled to take counter-measures. Therefore she “desired a prudent attitude on Britain's part.” The “Asahi Shimbun' earlier asserted that the message of the Japanese Foreign Minister. Mr. Matsuoka, to the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Edon, clarified Japan's peaceful intentions and said Mr. Matsuoka was expected to seize an opportunity shortly in a Diet session to relate the circumstances under which he dispatched the Note to Mr. Eden and also to acquaint the Japanese people "with Japan's readiness and purpose to act.” CONFERENCE AT SAIGON MILITARY AND POLITICAL SITUATION. (Received This Dav, ,9.45 a.m.) SAIGON, February 21. Admiral Decoux presided over a conference of military and naval commanders and discussed the Indo-Chinas military and political situation.