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British political quarters believed that Viscount Halifax. British Ambassador to Washington, would con-for with Mr. Cordell Hull, U.S. Secretary of State, before Mr. Eden would answer Mr. Matsuoka.
The Japanese offer of mediation in the European conflict, which Mr. Eden doubtless will decline politely, was understood to play a secondary role in Mr. Matsuoka's message. The message was stated to be devoted primarily to an attempt to absolve Japan of charges of aggressive design, Although phrased in Oriental cour-fogy, Mr. Matsuoka's notei was believed to contain a covert threat in the form of a hint that some Japanese groups were demanding immediate measures to meet the possible emergencies arising from British-American action in the Pacific.
The drafting of the British reply undoubtedly would afford Mr, Eden an opportunity to turn the spotlight On the recent Japanese actions.
Reliable quarters said that during the recent visit to Bordighera, Italy, Generalissimo Francisco Franco, Span+ ish Premier, had discussed with Premier Benito Mussolini peace possibilities.
No confirmation of the peace feelers from the Franco-Mussolini talks has reached Britain, but observers were convinced that German inspiration accounted for the Japanese mediation proposal as well as the peace heme of Premier Mussolini's conversation with Gen, Franco.
Meanwhile, the morning newspapers showed a marked difference of opinion regarding the significance of the Japanese mediation offer.
The "Daily Telegraph" bluntly said that "Japan's threat of war in the Pacific" was instigated by Germany.
"The Times" asserted that Japan's offer of mediation was a sincere gesture intended to avoid a long drawn-Out war which Mr. Matsuoka fears would herald an era of Communistic revolution.
The "News Chronicle" diplomatic Correspondent suggested that the Japanese offer may be due to a breakdown in Axis plans to spread the war to the Far East.
"Japan has devised the peace move on the spur of the moment to distract attention and âll in time until the disarranged timetable can be strightened out," it said—United Press, Tokyo Statement Tokyo, Feb. 20.
Stressing Japan's efforts to contribute to and bring about world peace, Mr. Yosuke Matsuoka's special message to the British Foreign Clee ogam reiterated Japan's readiness to toke necessary measures for mediation in any conflict anywhere in the world, it was revealed today.
Mr. Matsuoka, it was understood, will shortly address the Diet to the same effect, in order te clarify Japan's motives in connection with the offer.
The message to the British Foreign Office further emphashed that Japan has not the slightest intention of gaining control over other nations, but that her object is solely one of peace.
This was Japan's reason for concluding the Three-Power Pact, the message said. Japan desires to es-publish a new sphere of mutual expansion and mutual prosperity in East Asia, thus contributing to world peace in general, the message pointed out Domei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.