JAPAN’S POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1941, Page 5

JAPAN’S POLICY

“CO-PROSPERITV SPHERE” BOLD GEOGRAPHICAL DEFINITION. "NO TERRITORIAL AMBITIONS.” (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) TOKIO, March 11. Admiral Gumpai Sekine, the widely read Japanese naval critic advanced today a bold geographical definition of Japan’s “co-prosperity sphere,” including India, Australia and the Philippines. Marking the highlight of a series of provincial newspaper editorials, advocating an immediate advancement of Japan’s southward policy, Admiral Sekine wrote in the “Niehl Niehl” that the Japanese co-prosperity sphere .Should "find its latitude in circles formed with a straight line, connecting Tokio and Colombo, as its radius.” “Japan,” he said, “has no territorial ambitions but the crux of matter lies in the question: If Britain is defeated, under whose control would the southerners fall?” FRIENDSHIP STRESSED ARRIVAL OF JAPANESE ENVOY. MINISTER TO CANBERRA. BRISBANE, March 11. The Japanese Minister- to Canberra, Mr Kawai, on his arrival in Australia today, said friendship was of greater importance than mere trading relations. "Let us establish friendship; trade relations will be certain to follow,” he said. “Some people think that Australia and Japan must inevitably quarrel,” he added, “but there is no need for that if we understand each other’s problems, which, being neighbours geographically and closely related economically, it is our duty to try to do.” "I made an overseas tour last year, and from what I saw the world appeared to me to be changing very rapidly,” Mr Kawai said. Japan, he added, regarded Australia as a nation with a great industrial future. Mr Kawai intends to establish his home and official quarters in Melbourne, but he will maintain a suite at Canberra, where he will attend periodically. GOING TO EUROPE MR MATSUOKA’S PLANS. LONG CHERISHED WORLD PEACE VIEWS. TOKIO, March 11. It was officially announced that the Foreign Minister, Mr Matsuoka, will leave for Germany and Italy tomorrow. He will “exchange felicitations with and meet the leaders of Germany and Italy.” In a statement to the Press, Mr Matsuoka said: “I have never met HenHitler, Marshal Goering or Herr von Ribbentrop, for which reason I have wanted to meet them once and have heart-to-heart talks. I also intend to see other important persons in Germany and Italy and preach my longcherished v world peace opinion based on the principle of Hakka Ichiu. (“Eight Corners Under One Roof,” or universal brotherhood). ■ Ho stated that during his visit to Berlin and Rome he would avail himself of the opportunity to make personal observation on the spot of the situation in Europe. Accompanying Mr Matsuoka will be a delegation cf nine, including Mr Tamao Skamoto, director of the European Bureau, and also Colonel Yatsuji (Army), and Commander Shigeru Fujii (Navy).