The Aim of an Article To the Editor of the "Norru-Cuna Dany News"
Sm—While appreciating your reference this morning to an article appearing in the current issue of "The People's Tribune," may I point out that your friendly remarks seem likely to cause some misapprehension In the minds of those who have not read the article. It is suggested by you that we have taken' pains 0 show "appreciation of friendly words from distinguished Japanese leaders," ut If that is the impression created in your mind, T fear we have not made our object quite clear. That Intention was to answer Japanese charges against China of hostility and Insincerity by calling not Chinese but Japanese witnesses to show the utter falsity of those allegations, In the first place, the article under notice is entitled "Japanese Critics of Japan's Aggression," and our object in quoting the pre-war statements of Japanese statesmen, diplomats, and businessmen was to. show that Japan's repeated assertion: since hostilities started~that her policy toward China during recent years was friendly had been severely ritielzed by influential Japanese commentators, whose views on the {Wend of events fully "confirm the attitude which has been taken by spokesmen of the Na~ jovernment in stating China's case. Secondly, these Japanese critlelsms of their' country's policy were not intended to show "sympathy With China's diMeuities" so much as condemnation of the mailed-Ast policy which had been followed by Japan, her dealings with China, That the Japanese opinions quoted express sympathy with China's cliff culties is true, but from our point of view that is a secondary issue; the main point it is wished to emphasize that eminent and influential Japanese holding important offal and unofficial positions have vigorously denounced Japan's aggressive policy {in dealing with China,—ha demned "dual diplomacy, expressed appreciation of China's sincerity in seeking to settle Japanese differences, have insisted upon fair play and' mutual respect, have criticized "hot-blooded (apanese) officials abroad" for intensifying anti japanese sentiment in China, have declared that Japan's polley was not conducive to" cooperation, have denounced military {interference in diplomatic affairs, and in other ways have frankly: expressed the opinion that If Japan wanted {o establish real friendship with China, she "had adopted wrong tactics" That Japanese witnesses testify these things Is, in my opinion, a complete refutation of Japan's subsequent pretence that she the unoffending victim of Chinese Certainly we appreciate the friendly sympathy for China shown by these Japanese critics, but what we regard fas much more important is their emphatic denunciation of the polley followed by the Japanese Government in dealing with China, and their frank warnings that friendly. relations between their country and fours can never be established unless China was approached with an open heart instead of empty words. Hence the title of the article, "Japanes Cities of Japan's Aggression."
Shanghai, Nov, 6.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.