Mr, Hirota Says Customs Not to Be Taken Over Tokyo, Web. 2
Desire to maintain Japun's "traditional friendly relations with Great Britain" was expressed by Mr. Koki Hirota, the Forel Minister, in reply to Mr. Salichiro Doke, Independent member, in the Lower House to-day.
"The Government's. foreign policy the current situation," Mr. Hirota said, "was enunciated in my speech jin the Diet some days ago, 1. wish to maintain the traditional friendly relations between Japan and Britatn, think Britain is' fully cognisant of the recent changes in the internation: al situation In the Par Bast, "There have been various discuss sions in certain quarters In Japan regarding British movements, but feannot sce a single case in which Britain has acted deliberately against the interests of Japan. If any such case should occur, I think it is the duty of diplomats to. persuade Britain reconsider."
japan," the Foreign Minister "ass serted, "is now engaged on a. giguntle task in the Far East. Therefore, it is her mission to attain her ultimate obfective in settling. the present China "There is no course left for Japa but to persuade foreign Powers. to understand the new situation inthe For East and to lead them along tines in keeping with the new situation.
trust." "Mr. Hirota concluded, that Britain, which is most interested jin the Par East, will be the first country to grasp the new situation.'—Reuter.
Commons on Customs issue London, Feb.
'The British Ambassador' at Tokyo, Sir Robert Crnigic, was under in: struction to impress' upon the Japa ese Government the importance [which the British Government attach the maintenance and protection of their interests in the revenue of the (Chinese Maritime Customs.
This statement was made in the House of Commons to-day by the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden. when he was invited by Sir John Mellor, Conservative member for the Tamworth division of Warwickshire, {to muke a statement on the security: fof Chinese Government sterling loans.
Mr. Eden recalled that the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Koki Hirota, had assured him that the views of the foreign Powers would be duly con: sidered, and that the whole question of the Chinese Maritime Customs was Stl) tinder diseussion—Reuter, Mr, Mlrota us Into Tokyo, Feb..
Negotiations on Japanese control of the Shanghai Maritime Customs have come to a deadlock, Afr. Koki Hirota, the Foreign Minister, declared in the Lower House yesterday afternoon, "However, the Japanese authorities are pursuing a policy of keeping a vigilant watch over the customs venue and therefore, the customs revenue is being placed in the Yoko kama Specie Bink for safe-keep Mr, Hideyoshi Tamura, of the Min saito, asked if the customs revenue is be appropriated toward the funds set aside for rehabilitation work the Shanghai area. The Foreiyn Minister replied that he did not think the monies would be used for such purposes, "inasmuch as military oper tions still were in progress and the Fevenuie has decreased.
"Japan hus no intention to take: over the Shanghai Customs". Mr, Hirota declared. "but instead is pursuing a policy' of keeping survellance over the Customs revenue."
Owing to the decline in the 1e-venue i was considered insufficient for covering the expenditures in rehabilitation of war-damaged avens,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.