Tokyo, Aug. 28.
One of the chief topies these days in diplomatic circles and among interested observers is the increasing cordiality between Siam and Japan. This rapprochement undoubtedly. is tone of the most interesting recent developments in. the record of unusual Far Eastern events, Numerous missions of good-will have come from Siam bearing gitts—including such oddities as two elephants and a fragment of Buddha's bones—and profitable orders for trade and warships.
Japan, on its part, has dispatched technical advisers in road construc tion, agricultural experts, diplomats swimming coaches, scholars and busi-newsmen to assist in the development of Siam.
Lest, however, this latest evidence of Japan's spreading influence, com: ing at a time when the attention of the World Is focused on her policy of expansion and domination in Asia, de grossly misunderstood, it should bbe mentioned here that' there has been no deliberate effort on Japan's part to force this rapprochement.
The truth is, incredible as it may! seem, that Japan, as late as in October, 1983, deliberately or otherwise, acted to curry the ill-will of Slam by shutting out Siamese rice from Japan. As this is the only important item of export from that country to Nippon and as the measure was assed in the face of increasing Japanese exports to Siam as well as the wake of Sim's friendly gesture in abstaining from voling against Japan at the League of Nations on the Manchurian question, this coun-unkind treatment of Siam was certainly uncalled for.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.