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Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1933, Page 4

“We maintain that we did not go beyond the limits of legitimate seifdereneo,’' said the Australian ConsulGeneral for Japan, Air K. Murai, in discussing aspects of the Sino-Japa-nese conflict at a Sydney function. “All acts of self-defence, if successful, must necessarily appear to have overstepped the limits of strict necessity, becauee the mischief which otherwise would have been done lias been nipped in the bud; so it remains imponderable on the scales of justice. ’ Mr -uurai said that Japan’s actions were justified if only to check the “Red” menace to Manchuria. .-Northern Manchuria was a (Soviet sphere cf influence, iniested with Communist

agents and agitatois encouraging the people to revolt. It was only a step across tlie dividing lime between the eeuijicatory labour system of the Manchurian wai -lords and the system of the Soviets, with ail the 'advantages on the 1 Soviet side. Japan had invested &i : SU,QTO,bGO in Manchurian railways, mines, industries, and other enterprises, all dependent upon law and order, good government, and the prosperity of th® country for legitimate returns on the investment. Those interests Japan was determined to safeguard. “Tile new Government of Monchukuc,” he added, “has naturally all theo sympathy of the Japanese people. We saw in it .that solution of a problem which had troubled us for 40 yeais. We saw in it the termination cf hostile incitement from China proper. We saw the advent cf a civil ucvernment, composed cf reasonable men who understood the • strategic and economic importance of the territory to Japan. We caw the promise of peace for the future. We wanted peace. We did net, and we do not want Manchuria.”