Japan Believes Britain Stands for Justice

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 417, 27 July 1928, Page 9

Japan Believes Britain Stands for Justice

j Admiral’s Assurance OFFICERS ENTERTAINED Press Association. WELLINGTON, To-day. The State luncheon given at Parliament House to-day in honour of the visit of the Japanese warships was largely attended. The Prime Minister, the Rt. , Hon. J. G. Coates, presided. Vice-Admiral Kobayashi was on his right, and Prince Takumatiu ; on his left. Mr. Coates, in proposing the toast of the visitors, referred to the special ties, calling not only for recognition on the part of New Zealand with rei gard to the visit ot. the Japanese squadron, but also of gratitude for the i co-operation of the Japanese Navy in the early days of the war and from the ! wider standpoint of New Zealand as a ■ member of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

“Were we likely to forget the worthy and efficient part played by the Japanese Navy side by side with the Royal Navy during the war?’* he asked. Mr. Coates also referred to the bonds of treaty in the Anglo-Japanese Alliance now replaced by the treaty recently concluded at Washington by the lour great Lowers of the Pacific, also uur association in the League of Nations and our trade relations. Replying to Mr. Coates, Vice-Admiral Kobayashi returned thanks and said that Japan joined herself with the Allies in the war because she was convinced that Britain always stood for justice and humanity. Mr. I. Tokugawa, the Japanese Con-sul-General, referred to the good feeling between Japan and Britain. Speaking of the trade agreement, he said that the credit for effecting It was cntirly due to the New Zealand Government.