The writer then goes on to examine the details of the interview granted by Mr. Toshio Shiratori, the newly appointed Japanese Ambassador in Rome, to a German newspaper correspondent; Prince Konoye's utterance o? November 3, and the seven point forecast of the "official" Japanese programme concerning China which appeared in the "Kokumin Shimbun" on November 28: He devotes most attention to the latter.
Washington, he finds is already on the alert, as evidenced by the American Note of October 8, and the Japanese reply to the note, which he describes as "stiff," and its meaning "transparent,"
He adds:—
"Tokyo has admitted nothing, and promised nothing.
"The only conclusion to be drawn from the reply is that Japan considers the principle of the Open Door worn out, and inapplicable."
Mr, Firth sees in the manner in which the Japanese official press contrasted the "hardness" of Washin-ton, and the conciliatory tone of Mr, Chamberlain when he spoke of the readiness of British capitalists to participate in the reconstruction of New China after the war, as am attempt to drive a wedge between the two Governments.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.