Tokyo, Jan. 22.
"Far distant still is the end of the conflict, and it will be a long time before a settlement is reached. Ours is indeed a momentous task unparalleled in history" declared the Premier, Prince Fumimaro Konoye, in a speech before the 73rd session of the Diet to-day.
Japan would never succeed in accomplishing her task, the Premier said, unless ell showed a dauntless spirit in gladly and courageously offering themselves to their country.
"We must certainly be prepared to make hereafter still greater sacrifices than we have already made," the Premier declared, Prince Konoye reiterated that the immutable national policy of Japan aimed at permanent peace in Fast Asia, based on close ce-operation between Japan, Manchoukuo and China, "thus contributing to the peace of the world."
The war situation, he said, was developing most favourably for Japan The Japanese Government was looking forward to the emergence of a new Chinese regime, which would really! ce-operate with Japan, and with which the Japanese Government intended to adjust relations between China and Japan, lend a hand in the rehabilitation of China, "and thus lay the foundation of permanent peace in the Far East.
The Nationalist Government, jhe indicated, failed to give a reply to these peace terms that could be regarded "in any way as sincere." This attitude of the former Nanking administration, Mu Hirota continued, compelled · the Japanese Government to announce on Jan. 16 that it would no longer deal with the Nationalist regime.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.