POLICY IN CHINA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 May 1941, Page 6

POLICY IN CHINA

LATEST JAPANESE “PEACE” PLAN REDUCTION OF MILITARY OPERATIONS. HOPES OF STRENGTHENINGPUPPET REGIME. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, May 11. The Japanese Ambassador to Nanking, Mr Honda, is returning to Japan with a plan based on an agreement between the Army, Navy and Foreign Service for peace in China, says the Shanghai correspondent of the Tokio “Nichi Nichi.” Mr Honda, in an interview, said he had been informed that Chungking wanted the wholesale withdrawal of Japanese troops as the prerequisite for the opening of negotiations. However, peace would be possible only through the strengthening of the Nanking regime, which Japan intended to do. The "Japan Times and Advertiser.” Tokio, discussing policy in China in an editorial, abandons the hope of overcoming China through force and advocates reducing the scale of hostilities in order to promote peaceful conditions and improved trade. BURMA ROAD TO STAY OPEN. An assurance that the Burma Road would remain open was given by the British Ambassador to China, Sir Archibald Clark Kerr. Rumours had been circulated by the Japanese suggesting that the British Government was contemplating a change in its policy in the Far East. Sir Archibald said it was not necessary to look far for the source of the rumours, but ho was perturbed by them anil proposed to put a stop to them once and for all. With the full authority of the Foreign Secretary, Mr Eden, he was able to state that there was no kind of foundation, for the rumours. The pol-; icy of his' Majesty's Government of friendship for China, as shown in the reopening of the Burma Road, remained unchanged. Sixty-three Japanese bombers raided Chungking. About 50 people were killed and Sir Archibald Clark Kerr's house was damased.