"Recalling, however, the Sino-Japanese conflict in Shanghai in 1932 and the agreement reached through ce-operation of the interested Powers, I personally think that in order to bring about a happy conclusion of the present hostilities in and around Shanghai, Japan might not necessarily be unwilling to respond to an offer of ce-operation by the same interested Powers."
Mr. Kawagoe reviewed to some extent the political trend which culminated in the current Sino-Japanese hostilities, He went on to say: "As explained on various occasions by Frince Konoye, the Japanese Premier, and Mr. Hirota, the Foreign Minister, the objective meaning of activities undertaken in China by Japan is to bring about a true understanding and most friendly ce-operation between the two nations, and this I believe must be the foundation of any lasting peace in the Far East.
"Prince Konoye's point of'view is that the present situation between Japan and China was brought about by the Chinese statesmen failing to understand what Japan truly wants ili China, Contrarily, Chinese statesmen have blindly held to a policy of anti-Japanism and, we suspect, a policy of pro-Communism. It has been necessary for Japan to break down this policy of anti-Japanism and pro-Communism in order to obtain cooperation between the two nations on equitable basis.
"Japan earnestly hopes that China will soon understand Japan's true intentions."—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.