Arriving at the newly-created general headquarters at 12.30 o'clock this noon, Gen. Nishio was greeted by officers of his staff, which is headed by Lieut.-Gen, Seishiro Itagaki, former Japanese Minister of War. Lieut~ Gen. Otozo Yamada, commander of the Japanese Expeditionary Force to Central China, went into conference with the new Commander-in-Chief for about 30 minutes immediately before Gen. Nishio made his statement public, "The' Japanese Government, "the statement read, "has consistently striven for the complete destruction of the anti-Japanese political regime in China and has promoted the establishment of a new order in East Asia based upon justice in keeping with its basis policy for the settlement of the present incident announced last December."
"The General Headquarters of the Expeditionary Forces to China has now been established in order to meet the requirements of the prevailing situation so that the settlement of the China Incident may be better achieved. The Japanese forces intend to achieve their objective under a unified command united in will and maintaining a uniform policy.
"To attain their aim, the Japanese forces are determined to destroy the last vestiges of remaining anti-Japanese influence. ' However, innocent people shall be treated with consideration and efforts made to rehabilitate thę areas laid waste by the ravages of \onflict. The Japanese forces will further ce-operate with enlightened Chinese in the creation of a new China, "The rights and the interests of third party nations will be respected and protected. Should untoward incidents unfortunately occur by accident in the course of military operations, the Japanese forces will attend to their composition with sin-rarity.
"It is to be hoped that third party Powers will realize the fact that extensive military operations are now underway and appreciate the requirements of the Japanese forces attendant upon such a situation. It is further to be hoped that, realizing that.the conditions prevailing during the current hostilities will not necessarily determine the future situation, these Powers will collaborate with Japan in the attainment of her objective.
"However, the Japanese forces will not hesitate in taking determined measures against those who dare engage in activities benefiting the enemy or interfere with the execution of Japanese military operations during the present conflict.
"At this time, we note a desire for peace and of opposition to Communism prevailing in China, Opinion is favouring the creation of a new, revived China. It is therefore to be hoped that all persons, both at home and abroad, will realize that the object of this campaign is to seek lasting peace in East Asia and that the presence of the Japanese forces on the continent of Asia is in the interests of justice. In making public the immutable policy and determination of the Japanese forces, I hope for the unstinting ce-operation of the people at large in the Army's great task of realizing the ideal of a new order in East Asia."—Domei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.