London, June 19.
An assertion that Great Britain regarded 2 proper understanding and collaboration with Japan as essential not only to the stability of Asia but to the prosperity of the whole world was made by the Foreign Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, at a dinner given by the Japan Society® to-night in honour of the Japanese Ambassador and Mrs,. Matsudaira, who are returning to Tokyo shortly.
Sir Samuel said he wanted Mr. and Mrs. Matsudaira, when they returned Japan, to take back a message from the English people, and say:
"We are very conscious of the fact) that we have many things that matter most in the world in common.
"We, both great island Powers, still have the inestimable blessing of a hereditary monarch.
"We are two very enterprising races, rightly determined to' leave our mark in the history of the world. Sometimes difficulties may arise, but! Jet us discuss them as friends anxious to understand each other's point of view.
"Relations between Great Britain and Japan have not been entirely free ct disturbing factors in recent! times. I will only mention a recent are bound to arise from time to time between two powerful me dustrial countries trading over the {ace of the world.
"I hope their Excellencies will tell the Japanese that there are many men an@ women in England who wish to see these difficulties removed, just as we are sure there are many men and women in Japan who wish to see them removed, 'We in England regard a proper' understanding' and collaboration between our two countries as essential not only to the stability of Asia but! to the prosperity of the whole world."
Mr. Matsudaira, replying, said that the friendship between Great Britain und Japan had stood the test of time and was firmly established now as: traditional., Several problems in the last few years had tended to produce misunderstanding and mischief, but there was no problem, however' dificull, which could not be solved,' sooner or later, with goodwill and candour on both sides.
was regrettable that unrest existed mot only in the Far East but Yhroughout the world, and strong, efforts were required, more than ever, to dispel the misunderstanding between nations. This object could not, be obtained by diplomatic and official efforts only. Direct contact between nations was also necessary.
Mr. Matsudaira alluded to the fact that "the Society for International Cultural Relations had arranged for a Professor to visit England to lecture] on Japanese art. He was convinced that good understanding and friend. ship between the two. nations was! most important for peace in the Far East, "for which we must continue to make whole-hearted efforts."
Mr. Stanley Bruce, High Commissioner for Australia in London, who was at one time Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, declared that the area in which the greatest problems Of the world would probably arise in the future was the Pacific, Tt was imperative that a very happy understanding and most cordial" relations should exist between Japan and England.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.