London, Feb. 18.
Japanese diplomats today described the Anglo-Japanese tension as having noticeably eased after Mr. Mamoru Shigemitsu, Japanese Ambassador to London, had conferred with Mr, Richard A, Butler, Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, yesterday afternoon.
They conferred for one hour at the British Foreign Office. Japanese diplomats believed that the conversation had given Mr. Butler an opportunity to renew expressions of British anxiety regarding the Japanese southward expansion, The talks, they added, also gave Mr, Shigemitsu a chance to assure Britain that Japan's present policy was not directed against Britain.
Sir Robert L. Craigie, British Ambassador to Japan, was' reported here to have emphasized Britain's concern regarding Japanese movements in the south and Japan's current policy when he talked with Mr. Yosuke Matsuoka, Japanese Foreign Minister, last Saturday at Tokyo, United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.