JAPAN’S POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1922, Page 5

JAPAN’S POLICY.

PEACE IN THE PACIFIC. TREATIES WELCOMED. PROBLEMS OF CHINA. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Received Jan. 23, 5.5 p.m. Tokio, Jan. 21. The Diet opened with all three political parties tabling motions favoring the Conference results. The Kokuminto Party urges not only disarmament, but a reduction in the number of army divisions to the lowest minimum. The Foreign Minister, in his opening speech, while regretting the termination of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, said the Pacific Entente was a clear indication of the progress of the times, and must be taken as a manifestation of a spirit of international goodwill on an enlarged scale. Therefore, he considered it a matter of profound gratification to the Japanese Government, by virtue of which the general peace of the Pacific was assured. Referring to China, he regt etted international peace was unsettle! and the situation was even becoming worse, but he would like to regard this as a passing phenomenon. Be reviewed the various attempts to negotiate direct in regard to Shantung, for , which thanks were due to Mr. Balfour and Mr. Hughes. In the negotiations at Washington Japan had spared no effort to secure a speedy settlement through compromise and conciliation. He therefore sincerely regretted that the railway differences prevented a complete settlement. He expects to address the Diet on this question later. China was assuming a unified form o-f anti-Communistic Demoeratics. The Government of Japan had accepted an invitation to enter into a parley to secure an assurance of safety of the lives and property of Japanese in Siberia. He had reason to expect Success. Japan would lose no time in withdrawing her troops, and would certainly discontinue the occupation of Saghalien upon a satisfactory settlement for the unprecedented massacre at Nikolaevsk*

The Premier followed on the same lines while announcing various international reform measures, including the introduction of the jury' system, labor insurance, taxation reforms, and extension of the primary education system with funds which would bq saved through naval reductions. The opening session was signalised by the circulation of thousands of pamphlets in the city urging drastic army reductions, advertising a series of mass meetings for the advocacy of the elimination of a number of divisions, and the reduction of the conscription term. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

NO TERRITORY AMBITIONS. Received Jan. 23, 9.20 p.m. Tokio, Jan. 23. Count Uchida (Minister for Foreign Affairs), in a speech at the opening of the Diet on Saturday, said Japan had no territorial ambitions regarding exclusive rights in Siberia. The troops there would defend the lives and property of nationals and would be withdrawn when political stability was reestablished. Military occupation of the northern half of .the Island of Sakhalien woujd certainly be discontinued on a satisfactory settlement of the NikoTaievsk massacre incident by a responsible Russian Government. He regarded the Four Power Treaty as the first great fruit of the Conference. The Naval Treaty was an important step in the reduction of armaments, which was now near realisation. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.