THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
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FAR EASTERN (JAPAN).
CONFIDENTIAL.
[F 11805/23/23]
November 13, 1939.
SECTION 1.
Copy No. 137
Sir R. Craigie to Viscount Halifax.-(Received November 13.)
(No. 663.) My Lord,
Tokyo, October 5, 1939. WITH reference to my telegram No. 1330 of the 3rd October, I have the honour to transmit herewith a summary, prepared from press reports, of the address delivered by the Prime Minister at the opening of a Conference of Prefectural Governors which was convened in Tokyo on the 2nd October, together with a summary of the speech delivered on the same occasion by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The latter has been prepared in the Japanese Chancery of this embassy from a summary of Admiral Nomura's address issued (in Japanese) by the Information Bureau of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
2. It will be observed that General Abe's speech contains little that is new, though it may be noted that, speaking of Japan's general policy vis-à-vis China, he emphasised the fact that she was prepared to co-operate with such of the Powers as understood her real intentions, but that she was determined to deal resolutely with those which were not prepared to do so. He also stated clearly that, in the view of the Japanese Government, the China "incident" would not come to an end with the establishment of a central Government in China and the downfall of the Chiang régime; it would continue until Japan had completed her task of establishing a new order in East Asia. This is the first time that so definite a statement has been made in regard to what is meant by a settlement of the China incident.
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3. Admiral Nomura's speech also fails to throw much additional light upon the foreign policy which he intends to adopt. As, however, this is the first occasion since his assumption of office that he has made a statement of policy at all, his remarks are not without interest, and I have the honour to invite your Lordship's attention to the statement that Japan has no intention whatever of closing the door in China or of excluding economic activities on the part of third Powers. It was necessary, he added, to induce the Powers to abandon their support of the Chiang régime by emphasising and demonstrating the truth of this fact. His remarks in regard to Anglo-Japanese relations appear to have been very reserved, and it is noticeable that, although he intimated that efforts would be made to improve relations with the United States and that it was hoped to solve, one by one, questions pending between Japan and the Soviet Union, he made no direct reference to any attempt to effect an improvement in Japan's relations with Great Britain.
4. I have, further, the honour to transmit herewith a summary, taken from the Japan Advertiser, of the speech delivered at the Conference of Prefectural Governors by Mr. Aoki, the Minister of Finance, giving a review of the financial and economic situation in this country. His remarks, it is true, were of a somewhat general nature; but it is of interest to note that he did not hesitate to warn his hearers that it was a mistake to think that the war in Europe would necessarily bring prosperity to Japan, and that he made no attempt to hide the serious difficulties, both financial and economic, with which Japan is faced owing to the strain which has been put upon her by the adventure in China.
5. The conference at which the above-mentioned speeches were delivered was convened, in accordance with the usual custom after a change of Cabinet, in order to give the Government an opportunity of explaining to the prefectural officials the policy which it is intended to follow. As has often been the case in the past, however, the press has evinced disappointment with the statements made, which, it complains, are stereotyped and commonplace and add little or nothing to the people's knowledge of what the Government intend to do. It is meaningless, the Yomiuri remarks, to call a conference merely to give instructions in regard to a platform which has already been promulgated.
6. In my despatch No. 614 of the 11th September last I had the honour to report that I was not impressed by the new Government, and I have no reason to revise this opinion, as there are already signs that General Abe is not finding his
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