"Japan now is acting as mediator between. Thailand and French Indo-China In their border dispute, and therefore, she is randy to act as such other parts of the world, if she Is invited by the Powers concerned," +Mr, Ishii added, Hioferring'to the recent call made by Sir Robert Craigie, British Am-Bassador, on the Forelgh Minister, Mr, Yosuke Matsuoka, a German corres: pondent asked it'Sir Robert had re-nested Japan's mediation, Mr, Ishii replied that the British envoy did not ask for mediation, and declined to divulge, contents of the conversation between the two, Asked to give a specific incident in connection with Anglo-American war reparations in the Pacific and the South Seas, Mr. Ishii gave as examples British troop concentrations Malaya and the projected fortifeation of Samoa, Questioned regarding the Tokyo conference, Mr, Ishii replied that the talks were progressing" smoothly, adding that "private "conversations were being held among the delegates of Japan, France, and Thailand almost daily."
He said he was not at liberty to divulge. details of the negotiations, The. deputy spokesman also said that the economic talks at Tokyo be-
To Mediate Tokyo, Feb, 19.
Japan's offer to' mediate in the European war was renewed aday in a statement issued by the Information Board. The statement declares: "Japan will certainly take the initiative in mediation if invited to do so by the Powers concerned. Otherwise she is not in a position nor has she any intention of posing as a mediator." Reuter, clared: "I cannot conduct a firm diplomacy unless this aspect Japan—that of the determination of the people—is reflected abroad'
Be always prepared for the worst, the Foreign Minister added, whilst simultaneously exhausting all penee-(ul measures until the very last, "The basis for these peaceful measures Ties in the establishment of a ighly developed national defence system, Ultimately diplomacy. is. force, and it goes without saying that diplomacy not backed by strength jean accomplish nothing," Mr, Matsuoka declared, Urging the people of Japan to dermonsirate their" determination "to establish a sphere of ce-prosperity in East Asia, Mr, Matsuoka said: "That is our conviction, which we shall not abandon regardless of "what may come, All Japanese are firmly united in this belief, which is based not only on an empty hope but is supported by" a national' strength Jeapable of bringing about the realiza-ion of this great ideal,"
This would constitute a basis of diplomacy upon which a programme or the establishment of a sphere of common prosperity should be estab-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.