Tokyo, Nov. 19.
Japan's reply to the American Note of October 6 was hailed today by vernacular newspapers here. Full support of the Governments stand was given, justifying the attitude con. tained in the text announced last night.
The "Asahi Shimbun" declared that the reply gave birth to a new guide in dealing with future issues which may possibly arise in connection with foreign interests in China.
Stating that "even assuming that the American assertion is correct," the "Asahi" pointed to the text which states: "It is unavoidable that Japan-
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"Military necessity" remained a paramount factor in determining the attitude of the Japanese military and naval authorities regarding Yangtze navigation, Japanese military, naval and diplomatic spokesmen in Shanghai emphasized yesterday as the question of allowing foreign merchant men to proceed up the river was again aired at a press conference.
The possibility that foreign merchant men, if permitted to use the river, would engage in trading with guerillas and other Chinese, opposing the Japanese forces, was cited by the military spokesman as an additional deterrent to the Japanese [to reopen the Yangtze to commercial vessels owned and persed by third party nationals.
Such activities, the spokesman said, could easily lead to "serious complications" which the Japanese authorities were seeking to avoid.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.