Nine-Power Talks on China

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 21, 18 October 1937, Page 5

Nine-Power Talks on China

rPresc Assn

WILL JAPAN ATTEND? U.S. to Retain "Independence of Judgment" PART IN WORLD PEACE

(Bj Telegraph-

— Oopyrigbt.J

(Roeeived 18, 8.4o a.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 16. President ftoosovelt delivered a speech to-day regarding the Ear Eastern crisis. Mr Eoosovelt said that the Nine-Powor Conferonce would be an attempt to find a method to end the Sino- Japanese hostilities by mediationj and if it were successful it* would point the way for a broader peace-promotion programme. The President stressed the point, howevor, that it was not yet safe to predict the part Amerioa would play in future world diplomacy. Mr Roosevelt left the impression that the United States proposals for the abandoument of so-called isolation were still indefinite. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says: — "It is not expected that the United States will take a leading part in the Nine-Power deliberations. She intends to retain independence of judgment, and does not congider she is obliged to fall in with any deoisions. " Senator Pittman (Republican), in an interview to-day, expressed the opnion that the Neutrality Aet would not hinder American co-operation toward ending the conflict. Senator Pittman added: — "I hope the confeernee will quickly settle Ika entire matter and will not permit of any delay by appointing mediators on conpuitteos while China is being destroyed." Mr Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, to-day accepted the invitation to the conference and his announcement was altnost immediately followed by the receipt of an invitation from Belgium. Mr Hull has chosen as chief delegate Mr Norman. Davis, who will probably sail within a week, with his advisers. A message from Tokio states that the spokesman of the Japanese Poreign Offlce to-day stated there was a possb bUity that Japan might attend the Nine-Power Treaty Conference, but not if Japan, were to be branded as an aggressor. The Japanese Governmeht was awaitxng the agenda before making a deeision. The spokesman hinted that naval quarters "favoured a war blockade to prevent pther Powers from sendipg munltions to China.