WAR CLOUDS IN EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1933, Page 5

WAR CLOUDS IN EAST

STRAIGHT TALK JAPAN’S ATTITUDE TO LEAGUE. (United Press Association—By 7'jectric Telegraph—Copyright; LONDON, February 14. At Geneva/ M. Matgucka, Japanese representative, when exclusively interviewed by tiie “Daily Mail,” said that Japan did not want to withdraw from the Lergue of Nations, but Japanese opinion would compel this if the League condemned her. He said that Japan had shown China that she (China.) could not disregard treaties, or boycott and attack Japan with impunity.

M. Matsuoka said that Japan could not brook foreign interference’ in liefi dealing with China, which he said had never controlled Manchuria. Giving -her control of Manchuria now would be giving her machinery that she could not operate. “AY© Japanese,”ho addod, “aae a proud people. AVe can be influenced by friendliness. We cannot be dictated to. We would not attempt to dictate to AVestern Powers. The time has passed when Western pressure can bring us to terms.”

JAPAN WILL NOT EREAK PEACE,

UNLESS CHINA OPENS ATTACK

GENEVA, February 13,

M, Matsuoka, witty Sir E. Drummond claimed that Jehol was an integral part cf Manchuria. He declared that if the Chinese continue to mass troops on the frontier Japan is bound by treaty to assist Manchukuo. He told Sir Eric Drummond that three hundred and eighty thousand Clmiese were massed on the Jehol frontier. He said that the only! way to prevent bloodshed was to secure the withdrawal of these troops. He stated the Japanese operations' were purely in the nature of police control. The Governor of Jehol had himself asked for Japanese intervention.

M. Matsuoka added that Japan will not break the peace if China does not attack.

The Japanese Government’s reply to the League’s Committee of Nineteen lias been received. It is understood that Japan refuses to recognise China’s sovereignty over Manchukuo, or to cease her operations in the Jehol Province.

Japan considers that the constitution of an autonomous state of Manchukuo is the sole guarantee of peace in that region. Japan says she must therefore* decline to adopt the proposals of the Committee of Nineteen.