Washington, Dec. 20.
Asked for his opinion of Japan's intention to re-open the Lower Yangtze to foreign shipping, the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordel) Hull, at today's press conference refused to comment in any way on Tokyo's decision.
Meanwhile, the State Department is still examining the Japanese proposed action, and no decision has yet been taken regarding it.
The imposition of further restrictions on exports of aviation oil to Japan, added to the virtual embargo already placed on shipments of planes, spore parts, aluminium and molybdonum to that country, seems to indicate, however, that the United States Government is not yet ready to modify its attitude towards Japan, political circles here stated this evening.
Opinion in Washington is divided as to the advisability of accepting Japan's offer to reopen the Low Yangtze to foreign shipping. Some believe that it is a sign of Tokyo's good-will which should be encouraged, while others are of the opinion that Japan's offer should be firm and not subjected to any conditions before it can be accepted by Washington as a basis for negotiations on other questions Diplomatic quarters point out that the Yangtze question is but one among many others which must be settled satisfactorily before there can be discussions for any new commercial treaty between the two countries, or an extension of the present one which has been abrogated by Washington—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.