JAPAN'S REPLY TO CRITICS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21412, 2 March 1935, Page 13

JAPAN'S REPLY TO CRITICS

Attitude To China And the League REPORTS DESCRIBED AS ABSURD ItJHITED PRESS ASSOCIATION'—BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 1, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 28. After letters had appeared in "The Times" challenging Lord Lothian's recent letter, which declared that Japan hoped to emulate in China what she had done in Manchukuo, the Foreign Office spokesman at Tokyo made a statement.

He described as entirely absurd and baseless reports telegraphed to London that Japan was trying to persuade China to withdraw from the League of Nations, dismiss her foreign advisers and participate in the formation of an Asiatic bloc in return for Japanese financial assistance. The spokesman added: "Japan desires friendly relations. Why should we impair amicable intercourse by such forceful persuasion?" Referring to Lord Lothian's advocacy of the mobilisation of the NinePower Treaty signatories, the spokesman said: "We cannot avoid the suspicion that our critics desire to disturb the Far Eastern peace or that they arc machinating to estrange China and Japan."—"The Times" cable. I Lord Lothian wrote to "The Times" on February 18 as follows: —"Japan hopes to face the world with a fait accompli in China, analogous to Ju.t achievement in Manchukuo, with the expiry of her two years' notice of denunciation of the Washington Treaty. Japan is tearing up Ihe Washington Treaties and nullifying the integrity of China and the 'open' door under the Nine-Power Treaty. China does not want Japan to absorb her: she wants to stand on her own legs without foreign control. The Brilir.h Empire, the United States, France, and Russia can more effectively help her than the Japanese. I urge Great Bri-

lain, without awaiting the arrival of trie Empire Prime Ministers, to mobilise the other Nine-Power signatories to decide whether Japan is to bo allowed to repeat in China on a gigantic scale the whole policy of veiled annexation already carried out in Manchukuo." I RUMOUR DENIED PROPOSED NAVAL HOLIDAY (Received March 1. 11 p.m.) TOKYO, March 1. Both the navy and foreign offices flatly deny the rumour that Japan would propose it naval holiday.