ASIATIC BLOC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 November 1938, Page 5

ASIATIC BLOC

JAPANESE DECLARATION ACCEPTED WITH RESERVE IN U.S.A. CHINA PREPARED TO FIGHT TO FINISH. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. NEW YORK, November 3. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says that the Japanese declaration of a new Asiatic bloc is accepted with reserve there.

The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, declined to comment, indicating that he preferred to wait for a reply to the United States Note. Diplomatic circles, however, tended to regard the pronouncement as one designed primarily for home consumption by serving as a cushion for the announcement of a bond issue and a warning that the nation must tighten its belt and make further efforts for the war with China.

There is no sign that the United States is being deflected from her purpose. She stands by the open-door policy and insists on respect for American rights. The American Ambassador in Tokio, Mr Grew, informed the State Department that he had made strong representations to the Japanese Government regarding the bombing of the Lutheran Brethren Mission at Tungpen, in which the infant daughter of an American missionary was killed.

The Chinese Ambassador, Mr fiushi, called on President Roosevelt today and read to the President excerpts from General Chiang Kai-shek’s manifesto. He assured President Roosevelt that China was prepared to fight Japan to the finish.