To the Editor of the "Norra-Cma Dany News"
Sm—While appreciating your reference this morning to an article appearing in the current issue of "The People's Tribune," may I point out that your friendly remarks seem likely to cause some misapprehension in the minds of those who have not Tead the article. It is suggested by you that we have taken pains to show "appreciation of friendly words from distinguished Japanese leaders," but if that is the impression created in your mind, I fear we have not made our object quite clear. That intention Was to answer Japanese Charges against China of hostility and insincerity by calling not Chinese but Japanese witnesses to show the utter falsity of those allegations.
In the first place, the article under notice is entitled "Japanese Critics of Japan's Aggression" and our Object in quoting the pre-war statements of Japanese statesmen, diplomats, and businessmen was to show that Japan's repeated assertions—since hostilities started—that her policy toward China during recent years was friendly had been severely, criticized by influential Japanese commentators, whose views on the trend of events fully confirm the attitude which has been taken by responsible spokesmen of the National Government in stating China's case. Secondly, these Japanese criticism of their country's policy were not intended to show "sympathy with China's difficulties" so much as condemnation of the mailed-fist policy which had been followed by Japan in her dealings with China.
That the Japanese opinions quoted express sympathy with China's dificulties is true, but from our point of view that is a secondary issue; the main point it is wished to emphasize is that eminent and influential Japaneserholding important official and unofficial positions have vigorously denounced Japan's aggressive policy in dealing with China, have condemned "dual diplomacy," have expressed appreciation of China's sincerity in seeking to settle Sino-Japanese differences, have insisted upon fair play and mutual respect, have criticized "hot-blooded young (Japanese) officials abroad" for intensifying anti-Japanese sentiment in China, have declared that Japan's policy was not conducive to cooperation, have denounced military interference in diplomatic affairs, and in other ways Have frankly expressed the opinion that if Japan wanted to establish real friendship with China, she "had adopted the wrong tactics" That Japanese witnesses testify these things is, in my opinion, a complete refutation of Japan's subsequent pretence that she is the unoffending victim of Chinese hostility.
(Certainly we appreciate the friendly sympathy for China shown by these Japanese critics, but what we regard as much more important is their emphatic denunciation of the policy followed by the Japanese Government in dealing with China, and their frank warnings that friendly relations between their country and ours can never be established unless China was approached with an open heart instead of empty words. Hence the title of the article, "Japanese Critics of Japan's Aggression."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.