Facts of Japanese Claim to Territory Wanted by France and China rox Out Owx Tokyo, July 29.
The declaration of Paris respect ing Prench sovereignty over the group of small islands recently dis-Covered in the South China seas Somewhere between the Philippine Islands and the coast of South China, is likely to be contested by Tokyo, according to the vernacular papers. Beyond noting the fact the French had discovered the isles which hitherto were reported not to have been claimed by any one and had-run up the tricolour over them, the Japanese Foreign Omics was contemplating, no further action. of any, se for the present but a vist Balto oficial of the Foreign ministry by one Sueji Hirota and the disclosures he made are regard~ €dito have thrown a new light on the matter. "Mr. Hirota claims that conducted business enterprises on ther big scale in the disputed lands more than 20 years ago, having accidentally discovered ph photo there and exploited the de-site; that he. had the support of vent im erect the phos that quite a bit of fish done by" Japat with these islands as a ey" was spent and that some fees, many of them ied there while his of opera tion, Fe these reasons, he con-fonds, Japan has a clourer title to the islands. If the Foreign Office takes no satisfactory steps and if the French Government insist on retaining the isle threatens to bring a 'Mr, Hirota' twenty-odd oan attempt to sal sunken Japanese ves Lavestgate' the shin industry in South China waters. fe accidentally came across the islands in question, found that they contained rather Valuable deposits of phosphate and decided to exploit these. This enterprise lasted until some three Yours ago when, dug to the develop ent. of the sulphate of amman Industry, it ceased to be a remuntrative venture. While. exploit the phosphate deposits, he say were built-and his fishing boats used to call at the islands every now and then.
Cant" year, Mr.
Hirata's story he heatd a rumour that the trench anchoritics Intended to take over the isles and he proceeded to Canton to rake investigations and to. point, out that his own laun went back for many more years, He then made inquiries regarding tae matter of the' Hongkong Government and the Government of Indo-China, through the Formosan Government-General. The reply of the British authorities was to the fleet that the islands were regard: edlsas belonging to China who was Foing to announce formal owner-Ship after a. lighthouse had been erected on one of them, but this lighthouse' was never" built Reon auter however, ender. them, ive concluded by say reply. to, the jingu
the Hirota bePfag already named, the vent, since so many and died there, the islands tone under the sovereignty Selgunrded by, The vernacular papers quote Mr. suemasn Okamoto, of the Tokyo Foreign Office, as "saying that Fapan may not ye able" to. accept ihe declaration of the French Gofrnment'in regard to, these islands Because Japanese had aires Habited them and that the J Authorities are" carefully the problem in question Cute of the communication they Shou'd send to the' French author ities in this connection.
"A National Uusion"
Under the above heading, Japanese essayist warns" hi oumarymen againat "yielding to the roanee that seems to be pervade ing Japanese society to-day' cal sation of affecting to despise "things foreign."
He begins saying that the economic position of Japan is by means "secure, that ghe is de-Pendent on backward industry and extremely low. wages for pushing fon her export trade, asd that the Jection of racial arrogance into "a situation which, is already, pregnant with great difficulties" will only result in "would-be customers getting sick. and. tired of our Wapourings and deciding to have "If such is the cas essayist, "why are We $0. very eager and anxious to learn Western methods and culture and why, when We cannot master its inner and implications, do we seek to things, which we secretly wish Imitate is one proof of our me fand is the re: lat eat oan
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.