Foreign nationals should not be unnecessarily apprehensive concerning the future of their trade and commercial activities in China if Japan succeeds in her present undertaking, the Japanese Ambassador to China, Mr. Shigeru Kawagoe, told a special Reuter correspondent.
"Foreign trade and commerce in China need not be affected unequally or unfairly under the Japanese objective in China," Mr. Kawagoe explained.
The Japanese Ambassador was questioned about the future of foreign trade with China in the event of Japan achieving a dominant position in China.
"The success of Japan's activities in China means only the abandonment by the Chinese leaders of the unfortunate anti-Japanism and the rejection of Communism," he replied, "The settlement of these two problems would bring abouts the cooperation of the two nations on an equal footing, Once this is clearly understood, there could be no room for raising the question as to the future of foreign trade or that of the present open door' policy of foreign trade in China.
Perhaps a "Mess"
Reference was made by the inter-Viewer to the remark of the President of the United States who had recently characterized the Sino-Japanese situation as an "awful mess."
"The present situation "in China may be a mess' if by that Mr. Roosevelt means that Japanese statesmen and diplomats apparently failed to make clear to their Chinese brothers Japan's objective in China," the Ambassador said.
"Mr, Roosevelt's words might also apply to the inability of the statesmen and diplomats of both Japan and China to present the present situation," he added. "If so, I myself. must accept a share of President Roosevelt's criticism, and it also may be that the United States does not fully understand what Japan is endeavouring to accomplish in China."
The Ambassador was asked whether Japan would be willing to submit the present Sino-Japanese complications to an impartial international commission and abide by its decision. He replied:
"It has always been. the traditional policy to settle any question in relation to China by consultation between the two countries themselves, I don't think there has been any change in this policy,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.