“PROTECTING” CHINA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 November 1938, Page 5

“PROTECTING” CHINA

MORE ABOUT JAPANESE AIMS STATEMENT BY PRINCE KONOYE. ATTITUDE TO FOREIGN POWERS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. TOKIO, November 5. Amplifying his announcement of November 2 of Japan’s future policy in China, the Prime Minister. Prince Konoye, emphasised Japan's eager desire to recognise China’s racial sentiment and protect China’s national independence. He said that Japan wished China to awake and realise her past mistakes. Hitherto, he said, China had been sacrificed to the imperialistic ambitions of other Powers. Japan recognised the need for a fundamental change, and wished to establish peace and order, based on justice.

She would not reject the co-opera-tion of other Powers if they adopted a policy suitable to the new conditions. Japan did not intend to damage their legitimate interests. It was, he declared, idle to think that the fall of Canton and Hankow presaged an early peace. Japan was facing the construction of a new East Asia. In this sense it was true that the war was just beginning. Chinese casualties since the landing at Bias Bay are stated to be 27,000. The Japanese lost 27 men killed. The Chinese in Central China, since August, are stated to have lost 119,000 killed and 231,000 wounded, while 3200 prisoners were taken. The Japanese lost 6153 killed and took an immense amount of war material.