THE FAR EAST.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16161, 15 March 1918, Page 7

THE FAR EAST.

JAPAN'S ATTITUDE. STATEMENT BY M. PICHON. (By Cable—Press • Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) NEW YORK, March 13. The Pdris correspondent of 'the "NewYork Herald" interviewed M. Pichon (Foreign Minister of France), who said that Japan's hour had struck. "We may expoct," he' said, "that she will fulfil her duty with firmness and loyalty. Japan is destined to play a foremost role in preventing Russia being wiped off the map." CANDID COMMENT IN GERMANY. (Australian and N.Z.' Cable Association.) (Reuter's Telegrams.) AMSTERDAM. March 13. The German Press is reticent concerning Japan. The only sorious comment hitherto has been in the "Frankfurter Zeitung" and the '"Vossische Zeitung." Tho former declares that Germany played the Entente's game of oxcluding her from Asiatic markets. By breaking up Russia, they gave the Entente an excuse to encourage Japanese ponetration. Germany had no more hope now than before of conducting a Far Eastern policy, except in connexion with Britain and Russia. Herr Balzmann, in an article in tho "Vossische Zeitung," says:— "Germany's Russian policy has cemented tho Anglo-American and the Anglo-Japanese alliances, and the security of the English Indian and Australian colonial possessions has been renowocl. Germany again finds herself friendless in the world, while Britain laughs in the background." ITEMS FROM TOKIO. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received March 14th, 11.55 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 13. Tho United Press Association's correspondent in Tokio states that Franco unconditionally favours Japanese intervention. while Britain's favour is conditional on America's approval. Tho Japanese Advisory Council has postponed its meeting pending advices from America. The political .situation is satisfactory. Authoritative opinions oxpoet intervention within a month. The Joyanese rr gard tho freed Austrian and German pris:ners in Siberia a.s a growing menace. The newspapor "Jiji-Shimpo" learns that the Germans are transporting tho parts of five submarines to Vladivostock, and adds: —"Japan is the only Power able to check the Germans' march seaward."