Nanking, July 7.
Firm conviction that the areas of peace would extend further and further until the whole of China was encompassed, was voi 5 Ching-wei, President of the ent, in a circular to the people of Sino-Japanese hostilities, "Compatriots of our country," Mr. Wang declared, "four years have elapsed since the outbreak of the current hostilities at. Lukouchiao on July 7.of the 26th year of the Chinese Republic, "On November 3, the 27th year of the Chinese Republic, Premier Prince Fumimaro Konoye of Japan, announced in a radio broadcast that Japan's aim was not to see the destruction of China, but to see her develop prosperously, and share with Japan the responsibility of establishing a New Order in East Asia, "Japan, Prince Konoye stressed, is ready to help China fulfil the conditions of a modern state.
"First Day of Peace"
"On December 22 of the same year, there was issued a statement, popularly known as the 'Konoye Statement' which enunciated the basic principles of friendly neighbourliness. joint defence against Communism, and economic ce-operation, "At that time, when Japan thus expressed her intention, the first day of peace between Japan and China dawned, iv]
"It Chungking had Jarted peace negotiations with Japa based upon the Konoye principles following my own lead, Sino-Japanese relations during the past two years would have been improved in all fields, and a solid and deep foundation for a New Order in East Asia would have been laid, thus making a tremendous contribution to the world.
"Chungking authorities, blind to the trend of the times, did not see this. and to our greatwregret there has not yet been 'a realization of an all-pervading peace, "Fortunately, since the return to Nanking of the National Government, there has been concluded a Sino-Japanese basic treaty, as well as the issuance of a joint China-Japan-Manchoukuo declaration, All this has been followed by a joint declaration between Prince Konoye and myself.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.