"The earlier the Yangtze can be opened tHe more benefits will the Chinese people receive; but Japan's purpose would be defeated if the Yangtze were opened for the sake of the Chinese people and utilized by the Chiang Kai-shek regime. Therefore, navigation on the Yangtze River must be subjected to some restrictions even if it is opened to general traffic.
"I believe in the great power of Japan. I believe Japan would be able to recover from the handicap imposed on her in connection with opening of the Yangtze.
^I harbour no misgivings regarding the opening of the Yangtze itself. I firmly believe there is not a single Japanese who has such a mean idea as to attempt to reap profits from the Japanese military operations on the Yangtze, N "The question thus naturally resolves itself into one of when the Yangtze will be opened; but the key to the solution of that question lies in the requirements of military necessity. I regret extremely that I am unable to state definitely a date for the reopening of the Yangtze, though I hope for the arrival of such a date as early as possible."
"Subordination" Unwanted Japan has no intention of "subor-dinaring" China, declared the Foreign Minister, Mr. Hachiro Arita in reply to the interpellations of Mr. Debuchi.
The Foreign Minister also endorsed the view that Japan's guiding principle in the construction of a new order in East Asia consisted in the banding together of Japan, Manchoukuo, and China, and their voluntary ce-operation with foreign Powers securing lasting peace in the world.
Third Power rights and interests in China also came up for discussion.
The former Ambassador in Washington urged Mr. Arita to make third Powers understand that Japan, Manchoukuo, and China are animated by this common object, aha have no tention to restrict rights and interest: of third Powers.
The Foreign Minister promised to make efforts to have foreign Powers understand this basic principle, and asserted that it would contribute not only to the prosperity of the Far East but to the world.
Voluntary settlement of pending; questions which admit of easy solu. tion will be undertaken without awaiting requests from foreign Powers, Mr. Arita declared. He pointe out that pending questions vary their urgency and difficulty, while there are not a few which have already been settled—Domei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.