DOUBTS OF OFFER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20128, 23 December 1939, Page 5

DOUBTS OF OFFER

YANGTSE TRADE RESTORATION MOVE GESTURE FROM TOKIO TSINGTAO RECALLED HOPELESSLY BARRED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 23, 12 noon.) a NEW YORK, Dec. 22. The Japanese Foreign Office spokesman confidently predicts that the United States will reply before Christmas to Japan’s notice of her intention to reopen the Yangtse, says the Tokio correspondent of the United Press of America. The Shanghai correspondent of the New York Times states that evidence is multiplying that the proposed reopening is based on the genuine Japanese desire to restore trade and show that her previous promises were not empty words. “Most exports of the region, such as foods and raw materials, can justifiably be claimed as essential to the support of Japanese military in the Yangtse regions,” adds the Shanghai correspondent. ... Pessimism Continues “Despite the professions of good faith, pessimism continues. Everybody remembers that for nearly 30 months promises and commitments have been made by the Foreign Office which the military would not permit to be implemented. “It is feared that the plan to reopen the Yangtse is in the same category as the reopening of Tsingtao’s port to foreign trade. This has proved meaningless and valueless. Americans and Europeans are surrounded by license and permit systems which have hopelessly barred trade.” .

The Tokio correspondent of the United Press says that as the Japanese Foreign Office spokesman indicated, the Japanese-American, trade relations would continue unimpeded after the expiration of the commercial treaty on January 26. lie said that the United States had given an assurance that there would be no increase in wharfage charges for Japanese ships, the penalty duties on Japanese goods or inconvenience to Japanese residents in the United States. These indications were given following an hour’s conference between the Japanest Foreign Minister and the United States Ambassador.