Tokio, Feb. 2.
During today's session of the Diet, replying to a question as to the difference of opinion between Great Britain and Japan in regard to the administrative system in the South Sea Islands south of the equator, Count Uchida, the Foreign Minister; stated that the point at issue depended for its solution on the interpretation of clauses in the Peace Treaty. Great Britain maintained that the clause specifying equality of opportunity should not [2] be applied in the South Seas, whereas Japan held the contrary view. Japan had therefore decided to recognize the British view, reserving the final decision to a future occasion.
The Japanese delegate to the League of Nations had accordingly conceded the British proposal, but there was at the same time an understanding with Mr. Balfour that Japan would insist on the maintenance of the rights already acquired.
Count Uchida added that the British delegates acted with great sympathy in dealing with the Japanese point of view. Mr. Balfour's tacit recognition of the declaration by the Japanese would be regarded as a recognition of the Japanese demand.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.