Tokyo, June 29.
The closing of Foochow and Wenchow, China Coast ports, by the Japanese Navy was defended here today by Rear-Admiral Masao Kanazawa, spokesman for the Navy Minis-wry.
Admitting that "it is true" that Wenchow and Foochow were treaty ports, the Japanese naval officer contended that they were both also strongly fortified with powerful ports.
These two seaports, he continued, constituted Chinese bases of operation, which the Japanese Navy found necessary to destroy. The tightening of the "peaceful blockade" against Chinese shipping was also sought by the Japanese authorities, he adelea.
The tightening of the blockade, Rear-Admira] Kanazawa continued, would "hasten the termination of the China conflict."
The Japanese Navy, the spokesman declared, had "no intention" structing the "legitimate trade" third party Powers, but pointed out that the booms sunk by the Japanese Navy off Foochow and Wenchow were measures taken because of military necessity.
The Navy spokesman admitted "a possible difference" in the interpretation of the term legitimate trade between Japan and other Powers, but pointed out that it was "a stern fact" that Japan was engaged in a major conflict which required the closing of Wenchow and Foochow on the grounds of strategic necessity.—Domei
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.