GOING TO JAPAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 301, 21 December 1933, Page 2

GOING TO JAPAN

AUSTRALIAN MISSION WELCOME ASSURED SYDNEY, December 7. Great interest has been aroused by the announcement that tho Australian Government proposes to send a mission to the East, particularly to Japan for tho purpose of establishing uettor diplomatic relations and to encourage trade. Really it would be a mission of good-will and friendship, although the exact nature of the delegation has not yet been determined. As a matter of fact tho proposal has not yet boon considered by tho Cabinet, but it bus been discussed among the Ministers, and tho suggestion was made that tho Federal Attorney-General (Mr. Latham) should bo in charge. Mr. Latham may find it impossible to travel to the East, and in that event there is a possibility that tho Prime Minister himself will go. Mr Lyons said that the matter ol promoting friendly relations wim neighbouring countries was one which bad given the Government some voncorn. “Conditions today are very d. : fiircnt from those which obtained even a few years ago,” he said, “and profoundly different from tho state of affairs before the war. Hade channel? have become restricted and have altered their direction. International relations generally arc more, important than they have ever been before, it is a strango thing that no official visit has ever been paid by Australia to the countries of any of hci near neighbours. I have had in mind some time the question of the practicability of a Minister from Australia visit.'-ug the Dutch East Indies, Malaya, Japan and China, upon a mission of friendship and goodwill as distinct from a trade mission. Matters affecting trade can be dealt with separately, and, indeed, arc being dealt, with by negotiation between the Minister for Customs (with tho assistance of tho Minister for Commerce), and the consuls representing the various countries concerned. The matter will be considered by the Cabinet after the Parliament has risen.” Unofficial assurances have reached the Commonwealth Government from important Japanese officials and residents that a diplomatic, mission from Australia to Japan would be very welcome. It is stated that an Australian Minister visiting Japan would be received with official and popular enthusiasm, and that he would be given what would amount to a scmi-Royal reception. Tentative plans arc already being made in Japan to map out a programme for tho Australian visitor. They will be completed before Christmas in the cxpcction that the mission would leave Australia immediately after tho Christmas holidays. There is a possibility that one or more influential Japanese residents in , Australia will accompany the mission.