Nanking, Nov. 7.
That China ıs not in favour of direct negotiations with Japan in settling the Far Eastern conflict wes made clear by General Chiang Kaishek in a press interview this after-
General Chiang expressed himself as being optimistic concerning the military situation and reaffirmed China's determination to continue the present struggle until justice is re-established in this part of the world.
The following were the principal stions asked and answers given during the interview:
Question: What does your Excellency think of direct negotiations between China and Japan, should they be proposed at the Brussels conference?
Answer: The proposal you assumed would, if actually made, serve no other purpose than to increase the difficulty of, China. Furthermore, such a proposal would be entirely contrary to the spirit of the Brussels Conference. Direct negotiations between China and Japan would merely be another opportunity for Japan to press such terms as are not only unacceptable to China but also un-&cceptable to the signatories of the Nine Power Treaty.
Furthermore, Japan has clearly proved herself a nation with the habit of dishonouring her solemn pledges and violating even most elementary principles of justice.
Whatever terms may be reached directly between China and Japan in the absence of effective guarantees would be in danger of being violated by Japan at any moment. In view of past experience, such terms would constitute neither an asset to Far London, Nov. 7.
A pageant of British Empire produce and trade will be the spectacle of the Lord Mayor's show next Tuesday.
The subject has been chosen out of compliment to the new Lord Mayor, who spent his early years in various parts of the Empire. Tableaux are being staged by the dominions and the Governments of Southern Rhodesia and Malta.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.