Changchun, Apr. 4.
Manghoukuo had definitely decided to build her own Navy and the question of tonnage and numbers was now under consideration, declared General Chang Ching-hui the Premier, when interviewed by a foreign correspondent. "We intend," he said, "to build even battleships and of cruisers in addition to smaller types although border incidents were numerous, he was of the opinion that Moscow did not contemplate a trial of strength.
"The position," he stated, "has altered for the better since the battle of Changkufeng last August as far as we are concerned. That battle was a decisive defeat for the Soviet forces and the result has been that the situation is now far less critical than we believe the Soviet Government has discovered. It will not pay the Soviet to adopt a policy of aggression across the Manchoukuoan border.
"The series of incidents which has taken place since the battle of Changkufeng.is designed to irritate and annoy both Manchoukuo and Japan and to cause us trouble. The situation, however, is not critical."
Border Delimitation The Manchoukuo Government, he added, did not propose to make any further suggestions to the Soviet Government regarding a more exact delimitation of the 3,700 kilometre Border, where the "ravages of time have removed the many of the border marks fixed 70 years ago, while the changes which occurred in border rivers, particularly the appearance of new islands in the Amur River, have provided cause for other disputes.
The Premier recalled that the Manchoukuo Government on two occasions had proposed the formation of a commission to examine the entire boundary question, but the Soviet had refused the offer. Since the battle of Changkufeng, he continued, the Manchoukuo Government had not considered it necessary to renew the proposal.
Manchoukuo, stated General Chang Ching-hui, welcomed the Japanese colonization schemes in Manchoukuo which were opening up new and hitherto uncultivated areas.
The Government, he added, also welcomed agricultural labour from China.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.