FO371-23523 — Page 10

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COPY.

JAPANESE EMBASSY

PEKING.

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324

The Japanese Embassy have the honour to

transmit to the British Embassy a copy of Aide Memoire

of the Japanese Government delivered to the British Embassy in Tokyo on September 5, 1939 the text of which is as

follows:

"In the face of the war that has just broken out in

Europe, the Japanese Government intend not to be involved

therein, but will concentrate their efforts on the

settlement of the China Affair. In this connection, the

Japanese Government, to whom the attitude of Powers

towards the situation in China is a matter of deep

concern, desire to request that your Government, appre-

ciating the said intention of the Japanese Government,

will refrain from taking any such measures as may prejudice Japan's position in regard to the China Affair.

Furthermore, with regard to those regions of China

which are under the control of the Japanese forces, it is apprehended that the presence there in of troops and war- ships of the countries taking part in the European war may give rise to untoward incidents and to a situation not in keeping with Japan's policy of non-involvement. The Japanese Government, therefore, consider it necessary to offer a friendly advice to the belligerent Powers

concerned that they should voluntarily withdraw their troops and war-ships from the regions referred to above. It may be added that, upon withdrawal of such troops and ships, the Japanese authorities are prepared to exercise their utmost efforts for the protection of lives and property of the nationals belonging to the belligerent

Powers".

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