Tokyo, Dee. 24.
Violation by France of her" agreement with Japan in 1907, guarantecing the security of the two Countries" adjacent terFitorities in Asia, was seen to-day by the "Tokyo Asahi" Influential daily. "if the French Government promised to place its Indo-China ports atthe disposal of the British Fleet in the Far East."
The Journal's comment was made in connection with reports that the slond of the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, in favour of a stronger British fleet, was based fon promises of French ce-operation in the Mediterranean and Indo-China.
Press reports had said that such promises by France were seen as bolstering Mr. Eden's opposition toa decision of the British Government to refrain' from strengthening its fleet The Franco-Sapanese pact of 1907, said the "Asahi" editorial, ensures the security not only of Indo-China, but also protects Prench interests Hainan Island as embodied in Franco-[Chinese Notes exchanged in 1897.
The journal stressed the fact that. Japan during the past 30 years had Mriclly observed the terms of the Franco-Japanese agreement, " even uring the present Sino-Japanese hostilities, and that the French Government "several times recently had Yequested the Japanese Government for assurances concerning the securlity of French interests in. Indo-China and on Hamm Island."
At the time the Manchurian incident was submitted to the League of Nations in 1932. the "Asahi" declared, an influential French news Paper' had pointed out that the French Government, in violation of the Franco-Japanese agreement, had failed to prohibit the export of arms and ammunition to China through
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.