Paris, June 21.
The Government's surprise at Japanese allegations that France was sending war material to China was expressed yesterday to the Japanese Ambassador in Paris, Mr. Yotara Sugimura, by M. Georges Bonnet, Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Regarding the possible occupation of Hainan, to which the spokesman of the Japanese Foreign Office referred recently, it was pointed out in responsible quarters that the Japanese Government in the past had indicated that Hainan would not be occupied if France observed neutrality.
The Government considered that it had remained impartial in the conflict between China and Japan and, therefore, there was no justification for any occupation of the island.
It was admitted, however, that the occupation of Hainan would not violate the treaty between France and Japan of 1907.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.