Meanwhile, he said, the troops are preparing for future operations, maintaining order in the area under Japanese occupation, and striving to rehabilitate the war-torn districts, "In dealing with third powers," Gen. Hata declared, "we shall follow the honorable path' of justice, in a cordance with the Government's foreign policy."
Friction with third powers, Jadded, will arise only should they attempt to interfere with the Army operations.
Gen. tata said he would exercise! caution in dealing with the problem Jof the International Settlement, in view of the complex inter-relationships of foreign interests within it.
"The China incident," he went on, "as reached its second stage. Therefore, the Japanese forees must make {full preparations for the coming protracted hostilities."
With the return of Gen. Iwane 'Matsui, his predecessor, to Tokyo, it has been assumed by many, Gen. Hala said, that Japan "may' take 2 negative attitude to the China me cident."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.