PEACE POLICY?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 15, 11 October 1937, Page 5

PEACE POLICY?

l I'resa Assn -

Konoye's Overture

NEW PHASE IN JAPAN U.S. Declaration Strengthens Hand of Liberals BUSINESS MEN SHOCKED

(Bj Teleprapl

-Co->7r!^'iL

(Received 11, 8.45 a.in.) LONDON, Oct. 10 Tlie Daily Telegraph 's correspondent at Tokio states: "President Roosevelt's speech has gone far to strengtlien the Liberal elements in Japan, who ai© opposing the extreme militarists and hureaucrats. Prince Konoye, the Premier, has long been iu confliet with the Minister of War, General Sugiyama, who, until the American eondemnation of Japan, had the upper hand. "The situation has now changed. Prince Konoye has triumphed over his opponents, and it is understood that

his policy will now be carried out. He "has been trying to make tentative peace overtures to the Nanking Government for three nionthg. "The Japanese Press mentions General Ugaki, who failed to form a Oabmet recently owing to opposition from the army, as being the most likely mem* ber of Prince Konoye's bram trust. "Tho business eommuuity is shocked and surprised at the news from America, which is interpreted to mean that America is supporting Britain in the Far East. "A statement issued by the Foreign Office, however, expresses regret with regard to the denuneiations by the League and the United States, and strongly rejects them, deelaring that China premeditated the hostilities and that Japan has done her utmost to rcaeh a local settlement, even to the point of sacrificing strategical advautages, proving that her aCtions are purely defensive, wliereas China, in defiance of the 3932 agreement, has eoncentrated 40,000 men inside the demilitariscd zone and has tried to annihilato Japanese women, children and soldiers. " ' Japan, > the 'statement adds, ' was compelJed to act in self-defence. China should he denounced as a violator of the Kellogg Paet and a menace to world peace. ' "