TRADE BLOW SHOCKS BUSINESSMEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 241, 11 October 1937, Page 7

TRADE BLOW SHOCKS BUSINESSMEN

AMERICAN WEIGHT IN WORLD OPINION (By Telegraph—Trees Association—Copyright) Received Oct. 10, 9.5 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 9. The Daily Telegraph’s Tokio correspondent says that Mr. Roosevelt's speech has gone far to strengthen the Liberal elements in Japan in opposing the extreme militarists and bureaucrats. The Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, lias long been in conflict with tiie Minister of War, General Sugiyama, who, until the American condemnation of Japan, had the upper hand. The situation now has changed and Prine? Konoye has triumphed over his opponents and it is understood that his policy now will be carried out. lie lias been trying to make tentative peae# overtures to the Nanking Government for three months. Tim Japanese Press mentions General Ugaki, who failed to form a Cabinet recently owing to the opposition from the Army, as being the most likely member of Premier Konoyc’s brain trust. The business community is shocked and surprised at the news from America, which is interpreted that America is supporting Britain in the Far East. A foreign Office statement, however, regrets the denunciations by the League and the United States, and strongly refutes them, declaring that China premeditated the hostilities and Japan has done, her utmost to reach a local settlement, even to the point of sacrificing strategical advantages, proving that her actions are purely defensive, whereas China, in defiance of the 1932 agreement, concentrated 40,000 men inside the demilitarised zone and tried to annihilate, Japanese women ami children and soldiers. Japan was compelled to act in self-defence. China should bo denounced as the violator of the Kellogg Paet and a menace to world peace.