INTERNATIONAL GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN

APRIL 15, 1939 No. 4.

Published by CONTENTS Page The International Association of Japan Statement of the Foreign Office Spokesman Concerning the 12, NICHOME, MAKUNOUCHI, TOKYO Agreement on Cultural Co-operation Between Japan & Italy 1 Telephone: Marunouchi (23) 4664, 4935 Agreement on Cultural Co-operation Between JapanItaly 1 Statement of the Foreign Office Information Bureau Con­ cerning the Negotiations on the Fishery Question Be­ Treasurers Patron tween Japan and the Soviet Union ...... 2 Prince Iyesato Tokugawa Mr. Juichi Tsushima Statement of the Foreign Office Concerning the Admini­ Mr. Shozo Shimasue Honorary President strative Jurisdiction Over Shinnan Gunto ...... 3 Baron Yoshiro Sakatani Secretary-General Statement of the Foreign Office Spokesman Regarding the Mr. Sukeyuki Akamatsu Fishery Negotiation Between Japan and the Soviet Union 3 President Statement of the Foreign Office Spokesman Concerning British Viscount Kikujiro Ishii INTERNATIONAL 1 Assistance for the Stabilization of the Chinese Currency 4 Vice-Presidents GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN i On the Departure of the U.S.S. Astoria...... 4 Dr. Tadao Yamakawa Editor ; News of the International Association ...... 6 Mr. Chokyuro Kadono Mr. Sukeyuki Akamatsu i Chronicle—March, 1939 ...... 6

statement of the foreign office undertakings for their cultural exchange are growT- spokesman concerning the agree­ ing too numerous to mention. In view of Japan’s ment ON cultural co-operation important cultural mission of contributing toward the BETWEEN JAPAN AND ITALY cultural progress of the world through the creation ft of a new unified culture in East Asia we find the March 23, 1939. conclusion of the present agreement especially signi­ It is a matter for hearty congratulation that the ficant, providing as it does a firm basis for cultural cultural agreement between Japan and Italy, for the co-operation between the two countries and the con­ conclusion of which negotiations have, been going on solidation of their spiritual union. It gives an oppor­ in Tokyo between the representatives of both coun­ tunity to demonstrate fully our culture, while absorb­ tries since the end of last year, has today been for­ ing at the same time the best in Italian culture. mally signed and gone into effect. The present agreement is similar to the Japanese- At the time of the conclusion of the Japanese-Ger­ German cultural agreement in that, while providing man Cultural Agreement, the Japanese Government a basic policy for the cultural co-operation between declared that they would co-operate in cultural under­ the two countries, it leaves concrete matters to be de­ takings with those foreign countries which are in termined by consultation between the competent au­ friendly relationship with Japan through a bilateral thorities of both countries as the occasion demands agreement based on the principle of reciprocity, and and to be put into practice freely and appropriately. not througji the League of Nations. It is quite na­ tural that, following the conclusion of such a cultural agreement with Germany, Japan should have entered AGREEMENT ON CULTURAL CO-OPERATION into a similar agreement with Italy, with which our BETWEEN JAPAN AND ITALY country has long enjoyed intimate cultural relations The Japanese Government and in the fields of arts and sciences. The fact that the The Italian Government, cultural intercourse between the Japanese and Ita­ Equally animated by a desire to deepen the mutual lian peoples will by virtue of the present agreement understanding of both countries and to strengthen grow further in intimacy and that the two nations more and more the bonds of friendship and mutual will further deepen their knowledge and understand­ confidence so happily connecting them already, by ing of each other will in no small measure contribute mutually respecting their intrinsic cultures based on toward the promotion of understanding and amicable their time-honoured traditions and by promoting relationship between the two countries which has their manifold cultural relations, grown exceptionally cordial under the anti-Comiritern Have agreed upon the following Articles: agreement. Of late, admiration in various countries abroad for Article I. Japanese culture has been increasing. At the same The High Contracting States shall strive to put time the interest of Japan and Italy for the study their cultural relations on a firm foundation and of each other’s culture is particularly keen, and the shall most closely collaborate in these regards. INTERNATIONAL GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN

Article II. lines to persuade the Soviet to reach an amicable solu­ In order to attain the aim set forth in the preceding tion while maintaining a resolute attitude for the Article, the High Contracting States shall ever pro­ preservation of our treaty rights. As a result a satis­ mote their cultural relations through the instrumen­ factory agreement has been reached. tality of science and art, music and literature, stage At the interviews held after March 8th, Ambassa­ and screen, photography and radio, youth-movements dor Togo refuted the Soviet argument which said it and sports, etc. was unreasonable for Japan to demand substitute Article III. fishery lots for exempted fishery lots, and he strongly The competent authorities of the High Contracting expressed the Japanese contention regarding the States shall decide by mutual agreement the detailed stabilized fishery lots. At the same time he endeav­ measures necessary for the execution of the stipula­ oured to persuade the Soviet, to postpone the auction tions of the preceding Article. scheduled for March 15th, urging the Soviet side to reconsider and stated that the serious responsibility Article IV. should be borne by the Soviet Government for the The present Agreement shall enter into force on the situation which might arise as a result of its insistent- day of its signature. It shall expire twelve months unilateral contentions. after one of the High Contracting States shall have On March 15th, the Soviet carried out the auction denounced it. as previously planned and, although the fishery lots In witness whereof, the Undersigned, duly author­ which the Japanese had hitherto operated were not ized by their respective Governments, have signed the affected as a whole, it successfully bid for four of the present Agreement and affixed hereunto their seals. stabilized lots hitherto operated by the Japanese as Done in duplicate, in Japanese and Italian original well as six fishery lots which the Soviet Government texts, at Tokyo, the 23rd of March, 1939, i.e., the 23rd had proposed to place on auction as substitutes for day of the 3rd month of the 14th year of Sydwa- the fishery lots which it had previously proposed to Period, corresponding to the 23rd day of the 3rd exempt from the operation by Japanese nationals. month of the 17th year of Fascist-Period. Against this the Japanese Embassy at Moscow lodged (L.S.) Hachiro Arita. a vigorous protest in official Note dated the 19th, (L.S.) Giacinto Auriti. stating that Japan refused to accept the effect of the auction. The negotiations were continued which substantial­ STATEMENT OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE IN­ ly came to a close by the end of March. The negotia­ FORMATION BUREAU CONCERNING THE tions were then shifted to the question of what form NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FISHERY of document should be adopted to incorporate the QUESTION BETWEEN JAPAN points agreed upon. At midnight on the second of AND THE SOVIET UNION April the negotiations on the fishery question came April 4, 1939. to a satisfactory conclusion, and the Japanese parti­ 1. The Japanese-Soviet negotiations regarding the cipated in the auction held at Vladivostok on April 4. question of fishing in the northern waters came to a 2. The results of the agreement may be summariz­ satisfactory conclusion on April 2 and a modus vivendi ed as follows: was signed at midnight of the same day by Ambassa­ (a) The Fishery Convention of 1928 remains in dor Togo and Foreign Commissar Litvinoff. The force until the end of this year. following is an outline of the progress of negotiations (b) The contract for the special contract fishery conducted after the announcement at the end of Fe­ lots is extended another year with the exception of bruary this year up to the time of the conclusion of four exempted lots, concerning which mention will the agreement. be made later. Since March Ambassador Togo negotiated nine (c) As to stabilized fishery lots they are placed on times with Foreign Commissar Litvinoff, namely, on auction with the exception of the exempted lots of the Sth, 11th, 14th, 22nd, 26th, 28th and 31st of which mention will be made later, but March and 1st and 2nd of April; and in the mean­ (A) The definite prospect is that Japanese fishing time Counsellor Nishi negotiated from time to time interests will acquire them. with Assistant Chief of the Far Eastern Bureau (B) These acquired lots will be under lease for Tsarabukin. five years. Some of these interviews lasted for several hours (C) The rent is not to be raised more than ten with heated arguments, and more than once there per cent. was the danger of rupture. The Japanese side, how­ (D) The four lots which were successfully bidden ever, has consistently endeavoured along reasonable by the Soviet side on March 15th are to be returned INTERNATIONAL GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN to the Japanese. give rise to unnecessary disputes with France. Ac­ (ci) The exempted fishery lots: cordingly, the Japanese Government, in order to eli­ Thirty-seven fishery lots consisting of thirty-two minate such inconveniences and disadvantages, have of the stabilized lots, four of the special lots, decided to place the reefs under the jurisdiction of and one of the lots under lease are exempted the Government-General of Taiwan, and having pub­ from auction as exceptions to Article 8 of the lished the fact under date of March 30, 1939, the Vice- Protocol A of the Fishery Convention. But Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Renzo Sawada, noti­ against these lots ten substitute lots are offered, fied the French Ambassador in Tokyo, Mr. Charles nine of which are to be leased for five years by Arsene-Henry, to this effect on March 31. auction. (e) The nine of the Japanese fishery lots which STATEMENT OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE have been placed on auction because their lease ex­ SPOKESMAN REGARDING THE FISH­ pired will be successfully bidden by the Japanese for ERY NEGOTIATION BETWEEN the term of five years. JAPAN AND THE SOVIET (f) The fifty-two fishery lots which have been still UNION under lease will continue to be leased by the Japa­ nese. March 15, 1939. (g) The rate of rouble exchange remains the same 1. The Japanese-Soviet fishery negotiation, as pre­ as before. viously announced, was resumed early in January To sum up, the Japanese side has acceded to the this year between Ambassador Togo and Foreign Soviet contention regarding the placing of the so- Commissar Litvinoff, but made no satisfactory pro­ called stabilized lots on auction because the term gress. Early in February the Japanese Government, of their lease has expired. But the Japanese will prompted by the desire to accelerate the negotiation, successfully bid for all the fishery lots except the ex­ instructed Ambassador Togo to make proposals to empted ones and secure the stabilization of the fish­ the Soviet Government for exchanging the majority ery lots for five years. As for the exempted fishery of “exemption” fishery lots for the Soviet operated lots, although we are not to operate twenty-seven of lots. them, we can operate about three hundred and sixty On February 22, however, when Ambassador Togo fishery lots. In other words, Japan has acquired as made proposals in accordance with those instructions, the result of the recent negotiations about three hun­ the Soviet Government failed to show any intention dred and sixty fishery lots in all, of which two hun­ to reach a meeting point with Japan. Besides, the dred and sixty-four are to be stabilized for five years. Soviet Government stated that 'they would place on an auction on March 15 fishery lots including the sta­ bilized ones, to which Japanese attaches great im­ STATEMENT OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE portance. CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION OVER SHINNAN 2. In his conversations with Foreign Commissar GUNTO Litvinoff on February 28, March 8, 11 and 14, Am­ bassador Togo drew attention to the stiff opinion March 31, 1939. sweeping over various sections of the Japanese pub­ Shinnan Gunto (or the Spratley Islands) are a lic and repeatedly urged on the Foreign Commissar group of small reefs lying in the South China Sea, the advisability of reaching an amicable settlement off the coast of French Indo-China. These reefs had of the fishery question. Mr. Litvinoff stated some long been known as ownerless. However, in 1917 definite views of the Soviet Government on details Japanese began, before the nationals of any other regarding the settlement, but insisted upon the So­ country, to embark upon the economic development viet plan for auction. of the reefs, which has continued ever since, by in­ Ambassador Togo in his interview on March 14 re­ vesting a considerable amount of capital and erect­ quested Mr. Litvinoff to postpone the auction, inform­ ing various permanent establishments. The Japanese ing him that the Japanese side would not participate Government, officially recognizing the activities of in it, in case it was unilaterally carried out. In re­ these nationals, have on several occasions since sent ply Mr. Litvinoff told the Ambassador that the auc­ warships to the reefs and been giving them various tion would be held as announced while a re-auction aids as occasion demanded. But the absence of ad­ would be held in ease all the fishery lots were not ministrative jurisdiction over the reefs has caused not successfully bidden. only inconveniences with regard to the protection and Ambassador Togo, therefore, made it clear to the regulation of the lives, property and enterprises of Foreign Commissar that the Japanese Government the Japanese nationals there, but has been liable to were not in a position to abide by the results of an 4 INTERNATIONAL GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN

auction which would be held without their consent. fer by the British Government for the purpose of The Ambassador also requested the Foreign Commis­ stabilizing China’s currency must be most welcome sar to reconsider his attitude, stating that Japan to the Chiang Kai-shek regime, as a glass of water might be constrained to act in self-defence in case the would be to one dying of thirst! But what great Soviet Union resorted to unjust unilateral action. benefit can the Chiang Kai-shek regime hope to de­ 3. In an effort to secure a peaceful settlement of rive out of this small amount ? The weakening of the the question, a calm and patient attitude has consis­ so-called national currency of the Chiang regime has tently been maintained by Japan by straining her for­ been caused mostly by an uninterrupted series of bearance throughout the whole fishery negotiation military reverses, which resulted in the loss of vitally conducted in sixteen conversations which occupied important centers of political, military and economic more than forty hours. The Soviet Union, however, activities. Therefore the legal tender of the Kuomin­ has not only refused to budge an inch from her ori­ tang Government is doomed, unless a miracle happens. ginal stand and persisted in her contention but de­ Any financial assistance to stabilize it at this juncture clined to co-operate with Japan’s peaceful endeav­ is nothing but a feeble attempt at the impossible. ours and has gone to the length of declaring to hold an We need hardly trouble to take it up seriously. auction unilaterally despite Japan’s vigorous request As has been stated by Sir John Simon, the Chan­ that it not be held. cellor of the Exchequer, the stabilization of the Chi­ It is the intention of the Japanese Government to nese national currency is a vital problem in the Bri­ continue diplomatic negotiation to the last moment tish economic policy toward China and will be of and put forth every possible effort, with a view to great help to British enterprises and trade in China. bringing the question to an amicable conclusion. But The British Government then should by all means it is hardly necessary to say that there is a limit to it. have a clear insight into the general trend of affairs Such being the case, the Japanese Government may in East Asia, and also should give up its policy of find themselves finally compelled to make a firm de­ supporting the old Chinese national currency (fa-pi). cision by the future attitude of the Soviet Union. In They should help the new currency, thus contributing such an eventuality it must be remembered that all to its stabilization. Should Britain decide to do so, responsibilities should be borne by the Soviet Union. she would find, we firmly believe, the transfer from the old to the new currency will not be difficult at all. What is most important in this connection is the STATEMENT OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE motive of the British Government in its efforts to SPOKESMAN CONCERNING BRITISH stabilize the national currency of China. ASSISTANCE FOR THE STABILI­ The declared policy of the British Government to­ ZATION OF THE CHINESE ward East Asia is to restore by all means the status CURRENCY quo ante of East Asia. The British Government, March 10, 1939. through speeches in Parliament by the Premier and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has more than once Since the outbreak of the China Incident, the spe­ made plain its intention to render economic and cie held abroad by the Chiang Kai-shek regime has financial help to the Chiang Kai-shek regime. The steadily decreased until, by the end of June last year, present case likewise must be regarded as another there remained only 250 million Shanghai dollars. embodiment of the same British policy. Such a In the eight months that have passed since then, policy plainly runs counter to the general trend of what little that remained must have almost been ex­ affairs. I hope that it will not be very long before far­ hausted. This can be proved by the sudden suspen­ sighted British statesmen realize their mistaken policy. sion of payment by the Chiang Kai-shek regime of capital and interest of its foreign loans/payments on which it has been striving to keep up at all costs. ON THE DEPARTURE OF THE U.S.S. ASTORIA Needless to say, this is a hard blow to the Chiang Kai- shek regime. Thus, the foreign exchange of the Radio Address Chinese national currency now stands on the verge By RENZO SAW ADA, of complete collapse. This no doubt accounts for the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs new scheme of the British Government for the pur­ March 19, 1939 pose of stabilizing China’s currency. The present amount of the so-called Chinese national currency in Friends in America: circulation in the interior parts of China is estimated We have been informed of the departure of the roughly at 1,700 million yuan. China, however, United States cruiser Astoria from Annapolis, bear­ has no specie, no foreign trade, and no credit to ing home to Japan the ashes of the late Ambassador, guarantee this circulation. Therefore, the present of­ Mr. Hiroshi Saito. No doubt at this hour the Asto­ INTERNATIONAL GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN 5 ria is quietly sailing down Chesapeake Bay in the troduced, and we became at once great friends as silence of the night. young secretaries of embassy, though he was, of On this sad and solemn occasion of our Ambassa­ course, my senior by two or three years. In 1934 we dor’s last and wordless farewell to America, it is dif­ both arrived in America at just about the same time, ficult for me to tell you how grateful I am to America —lie as Ambassador at Washington and I as consul- —how grateful the entire people of Japan are—for general in New York. Of course, as you all know, the manifold expressions of sympathy on the passing he was then no stranger to America. Mr. Saito’s of Mr. Saito. Immediately upon the receipt of the first foreign post had been in Washington, where he lamentable news on February 26th, Mr. Joseph C. went in 1911 as an attache and had remained for seven Grew, your Ambassador in Tokyo, called on me to years. It seems that from those early days lie was express his personal condolences. Two days later he destined to dedicate his life to the cause of Japanese- visited the Foreign Minister to convey the condo­ American friendship. He was later appointed consul lences of your President and Secretary of State and at Seattle and attended the Washington Conference also to communicate the statement that had been is­ as a member of our delegation. In 1923 he was ap­ sued to the press previously by Mr. Hull. In the pointed consul-general at New York, and counsellor of meantime, reports began to arrive of the innumerable our Embassy at Washington a few years later. tributes and eulogies appearing in your newspapers. In these various posts in America he spent alto­ Finally, we received the unexpected and unprece­ gether twenty of the twenty-eight years of his diplo­ dented offer from President Roosevelt to transport matic career. And throughout these twenty years he aboard a United States man-of-war the remains of our was constantly and assiduously engaged in what he late Ambassador, who at the time of his death was regarded as his life work—namely, the furtherance no longer at his post. of friendly relations between America and Japan. We have been profoundly moved by this signal act Shortly after his arrival in New York to assume of courtesy and thoughtfulness on the part of your his post as Japan’s envoy to the United States, he President as well as by the universal manifestation spoke to his countrymen at a banquet held in his of American sympathy. Let me add that this is es­ honor. He said on that occasion: “I am going to pecially so with Mrs. Saito, the aged mother of the work for Japanese-American friendship until I die!” deceased, who lives alone in Tokyo and whose only All too soon has that pledge been fulfilled. Ambassa­ son and last remaining child he was. dor Saito has ended his diplomatic career in Washing­ On Friday evenings during the past few weeks, ton where he began it twenty-eight years ago. His friends and relatives have been conducting—and will was a tragic death but also a heroic and glorious one. continue to conduct until the day of the funeral— Ambassador Saito always believed in psychological wake services according to Buddhist custom at the disarmament as an essential condition of peace and home of Mrs. Saito. On these occasions we gather amity between America and Japan., Despite diver­ before the altar, upon which is placed a portrait of gence of views and not a few trying situations which the late Ambassador amid a profusion of beautiful arose between our two countries during the last year flowers. We recite from holy books in unison with or so of his ambassadorship and which overtaxed his the solemn chants of the priests and tell rosaries while failing strength, Mr. Saito was always optimistic re­ praying for the repose of the departed. Sometimes garding the future of Japanese-American relations. his mother recounts between her tears one anecdote He held the view that the very fact that two nations or another that illustrates the keen intellect of her could speak their minds to each other so bluntly and distinguished son as a boy. Let me assure you that unreservedly was in itself a sign that they were fun­ she derives no small comfort from the thought that damentally friendly—that is to say, that they were the remains of Mr. Saito are being sent back to her psychologically disarmed. I fully concur with him on board the Astoria. By honoring thus Mr. Saito, in i that opinion,; the correctness of which has been President Roosevelt has shown kind and respectful amply confirmed by the spontaneous outburst of consideration to his mother as well. Surely this is a friendly sentiment that his death has evoked in Ame­ reflection of the tender regard in which your Presi­ rica. dent holds his own mother. In conclusion, let me quote a passage from a speech Ambassador Saito was a great and good man. lie delivered by Mr. Saito at Bates College in June, 1937, was respected and admired for his noble, upright in which, incidentally, he refers to a pageant at An­ character and his brilliance and versatility as he was napolis that he had attended shortly before. These loved for his frank and unassuming ways, his ten­ were his words: 4‘The other day the Naval Academy derness and his wide humanity. If I may be permit­ at Annapolis gave a magnificent pageant in connec­ ted to indulge a little in personal reminiscences, it tion with the commencement ceremonies. The theme was during the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 that was the landing of Commodore Perry at Kurihama. I first met him. I recognized him without being in­ I understand the subject was selected because Japan 6 INTERNATIONAL GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN was the only major country with which the United Local Branches States has never had a war. I firmly believe—as I On Jan. 24, the Wakayama branch decided to send am sure my American friends do also—that this happy congratulatory messages to Hungary’s Regent and tradition will be maintained for all time to come.” Foreign Minister on the occasion of that country’s participation in the anti-Comintern agreement.

News of the International Association Personals Baron Yoshiro Sakatani, honorary president, was honored on Feb. 14 by directors of this Association in Special Investigation Section felicitation of his 70th birthday. On Feb. 17, Mr. Seijiro Yoshizawa, director of the Foreign Office’s American Bureau, spoke on the Mr. Ushiba, who left the I.P.R. department in American attitude towards Japan. June, 1938, to serve as an official secretary to Premier Konoe, rejoined this department in February of this International Round Table year following the resignation of the Konoe Cabinet On Mar. 1, Mr. Mit.suo Ozaki, one of the two tech­ in January. nicians of the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry, who recently returned from Afghanistan after three years stay there as a technical adviser to that Gov­ CHRONICLE ernment, reported on the yet unexploited resources of March, 1939 that country. 1. —In view of frequent cases of alleged mistreatment of Japanese subjects by Singapore police authorities, For­ On Mar. 3, Minister Tetsuichiro Miyake, back from eign Vice-Minister Renzo Sawada requested British Am­ his post in Chile, spoke on immigration and trade bassador Sir Robert Craigie in Tokyo to transmit to his problems between that country and Japan and also Government a protest of the Japanese Government. —Celebrations commemorating the seventh anniversary of on the recent Pan-American Conference. the founding of Manchoukuo were held throughout Japan. 2. —A daughter was born to the Emperor and Empress at On Mar. 6, Counsellor Morito Morishima of the 4:35 o’clock this afternoon, the Imperial Household De­ Japanese Embassy in Shanghai, who came to Tokyo partment announced. Both the Empress and the Im­ for a short period to report on the actual situation perial infant were reported to be in good health. The Emperor will name the new member of the Imperial Fa­ there, spoke on various questions in Shanghai. mily on the seventh day after the birth, according to custom. On Mar. 7, Lieutenant-General Rihachiro, Banzai —The Japanese Government accepted the offer of the Unit­ spoke on the Chiang Kai-shek regime, basing his talk ed States Government to provide a cruiser to carry to Japan the ashes of Hiroshi Saito, former Ambassador to on his impressions during his recent tour of North Washington, who died there on Feb. 26. The offer, made and Central China. on instructions of President Roosevelt, was conveyed by Ambassador Joseph Grew to Foreign Vice-Minister Renzo On Mar. 15, Mr. Micliio Yuzawa, adviser to the Sawada. Before accepting the offer, the Foreign Office Provisional Government at Peking, gave a frank talk consulted Mrs. Tsuruko Saito, 71-year-old mother of the late Ambassador, who was greatly moved and gratefully on the general situation in North China. agreed to it. 3. —The honor being done the late Hiroshi Saito, former Am­ Institute of Pacific Relations Department bassador to Washington, by the United States Govern­ At a council meeting on Feb. 15, Japan’s stand ment in bringing his ashes home aboard a cruiser is a with regard to the contemplated “study meeting” of manifestation of the feeling of the United States toward Japan and augurs well for the future of Japanese-Ame­ the I.P.R. and matters relating to the projected visit rican relations, Katsuji Debuclii, Mr. Saito’s predecessor to Japan of the I.P.R.’s secretary-general, Mr. Car­ at Washington, declared in the House of Peers. ter, were discussed. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office decided to sponsor the the last rites for the late Ambassador. Foreign Vice- On Feb. 22, Mr. Satoshi Goh was honored at a fare­ Minister Renzo Sawada heads the ministerial funeral committee. Former Ambassador to Italy Masaaki Hotta well luncheon on the eve of his departure for Ame­ will represent Mr. Saito’s classmates at the funeral, while rica to be Japan’s commissioner at the New York Yukichi Iwanaga, president of Domei and a near rela­ World’s Fair. Mr. Goh was a member of the Japa­ tive of the late Ambassador, will represent the family. nese delegation to the 5th I.P.R. conference at Banff, 4. —Premier Hiranuma, broadcasting to the nation from his official residence, talked on the movement for construc­ Canada, in 1933. tion of a new order in East Asia, assailing communism and stressing how much Japan, Manchoukuo and China The councillors met on Feb. 24 to discuss the report have in common. from Professor Takaki in New York concerning the —Forty-eight Japanese, seized last year together with five 11 study meeting” of the I.P.R. fishing boats, were released from Soviet prisons on Mar. 2, according to a report received by the Foreign Office. INTERNATIONAL GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN 7

6. —The Agriculture and Forestry Ministry's proposed rice where the Emperor Taisho is entombed. On the way control plan met with bitter criticism when it was brought back, His Majesty inspected the Third Military Hospital. up in a Lower House plenary session. 15. —The Foreign Office spokesman issued a statement warn­ 7. —The Tokyo Textile Traders’ Guild accepted the Govern­ ing that the Soviet attitude regarding the fishery issue ment’s order to restore the January 10th silk price pend­ may compel Japan “to make a firm decision.” Although ing the establishment of official maximums, thus ending diplomatic negotiations will be continued and every effort the protest of silk wholesalers, which took the form of a made to reach an amicable settlement, there is a limit, three-day “close-up” strike against the ruling. the statement said. 8. —Goals in the three-year plan for expansion of production Ambassador Shigenori Togo in Moscow reported to the in Japan, Manchoukuo and China:’ that is to start on April Foreign Office that the auction of fishery lots, including 1 were made public by President Kazuo Aoki of the those held by the Japanese under the Hirota-Karakhan Cabinet’s Planning Board in the Lower House in res­ agreement, would be held today. ponse to a plea for publication of figures in order to 16. —In one of his longest speeches in the Diet, Premier ITira- win public cooperation and correct foreign under-estima­ numa declared that the program for, expanding produe- tion of Japan’s strength, duction is intended not only to increase armaments but —The Emperor bestowed the name of Takako Suga-no-Miya also to stabilize the livelihood of the people. on the Imperial Princess born to the Empress on March —Four Pacific Coast Chamber of Commerce leaders arriv­ 2, the Imperial Household Department announced. The ed in Japan at the invitation of the Japan Foreign naming rites, held traditionally on the seventh day after Trade Federation. birth, were supervised personally by the Emperor. 17. —Japan has no intention of taking over the administration 9. —The House of Representatives approved without discus­ of China’s foreign relations in their entirety, Foreign sion the ¥4,605,000,000 China incident budget, presented Minister Hachiro Arita declared in the Lower House. a week ago by the Government. —According to a report to the Foreign Office, the Soviet 10. —Great Britain has been warned that its participation in auction of fishing lots in Kamchatka was held on Mar. the new £10,000,000 fund to stabilize the currency of the 15, with no agreement having been reached between To­ Chinese Nationalist Government “is likely to have con­ kyo and Moscow as to Japanese fishing rights in that siderable effect on Anglo-Japanese relations,” Foreign area. Minister Arita said in the Lower House budget commit­ —The Czechoslovak Legation in Tokyo went out of exis­ tee. Whether a formal protest will be presented will de­ tence, and its business was taken over by the German pend on how the stabilization fund operates, he added. Embassy. —Religious observances, patriotic demonstrations and mili­ —The Foreign Office announced that a party of 16 German tary and civil maneuvers marked the celebration of Army newspapermen will arrive in Japan late next month on a Day, the 34th anniversary of the Battle of Mukden in tour of inspection. the Russo-Japanese War. —The House of Peers unanimously approved the ¥910,543,- —Because- -of Soviet obstruction, making it impossible for 000 supplementary defense budget, thus completing Diet Japanese interests to drill in the North Saghalien oil action on . the bill. fields, Japan will demand extension of the oil pact to 18. —The Lower House approved and sent to the House of 1941, the Foreign Minister stated in the Upper House Peers six bills, to five of which were attached resolutions. budget committee. The most controversial was that on rice distribution con­ 11. —Premier Hiranuma agreed with Yusuke Tsurumi during trol, to which amendments were made. Others included interpellations in the Lower House budget committee one on control of motion pictures and a group of three that advantage should be taken of the arrival here next on shipbuilding. month of the United States cruiser Astoria bringing home —The Foreign Minister cabled Ambassador Shigenori Togo the ashes of the late Ambassador Hiroshi Saito to “make in Moscow, instructing him to lodge a strong protest manifest Japan’s goodwill toward the United States in to the effect that Japan cannot recognize the one-sided some suitable manner.” fishery auction held in Vladivostok on Mar. 15. —Need for more stringent control and penalties to prevent 19. —Profound gratitude for American sympathy toward the profiteering and check rising prices and inflation was death of the late Hiroshi Saito and for the courtesy and voiced by Seihin Ikeda, following a meeting of the re­ thoughtfulness on the part of President Roosevelt in organized Central Price Policy Commission of which providing the cruiser Astoria to bring home the ashes of he is chairman. the envoy was expressed by Foreign Vice-Minister Renzo 13. —Last efforts are being made to settle amicably the Soviet- Sawada in a talk broadcast to the IJnited States. Japanese fishery dispute before the Soviet auction 23. —Foreign Minister Hachiro Arita and Italian Ambassador on Mar. 15, Foreign Minister Arita declared in the House Giacinto Auriti signed a cultural agreement between of Peers. Japan and Italy in a ceremony at the Foreign Minister’s —All aspects of the international situation have been official residence. taken into consideration in making defense preparations —The Lower House completed Diet action on the religions and there is no need for alarm, the War and Navy Min­ bill prior to which the Premier declared that Mohamme­ isters assured the Lower House budget committee. danism would be accorded the same privileges as other —With the unanimous vote of the House of Peers, Diet religions when it has attained the status here of Bud­ action on the ¥4,605,000,000 China incident budget was dhism or Christianity. completed. 24. —Foreign Vice-Minister Renzo Sawada called Soviet —The United States, Great Britain and France made re­ Charge d’Affaires Constantin Smetanin to the Foreign presentations to Japan in notes addressed to the For­ Office and protested against abusive references to Japan eign Minister, regarding the new control over foreign in speeches at the recent Communist Party Congress in exchange enforced in North China from Mar. 11, it was Moscow and reports that the Soviets have started to con­ learned. struct large-scale defenses north of Changkufeng Hill. 14. —The House of Representatives approved the ¥910,543,000 —The House of Peers approved the final group of budget supplementary defense budget. measures, already passed by the Lower House, including —The Emperor visited the Tama Imperial Mausoleum tlie ¥199,332,000 second supplementary budget for gen­ 8 INTERNATIONAL GLEANINGS FROM JAPAN

eral accounts, the second supplementary budget for spe­ cial accounts, the authorization of further Treasury pay­ ments outside the budget and the provision of ¥120,000,- Diplomatic Documents of Japan 000 for the purchase of military materials on the con­ tinent. —Dr. Yotaro Sugimura, Ambassador to France, died here Part I, Vol. I — Price: ¥8.00 early this morning. Part I, Vol. II — Price: ¥7.00 25. —The world has been shown through the Diet session the national solidarity of Japan, Premier Hiranuma declared Part II, Vol. I — Price: ¥7.Op following completion of action by the House of Peers on the last of the Government bills. Part II, Vol. II — Price: ¥7.00 —The Miniseito and Seiyukai, the two major political par­ Postage: ¥1.36 Each ties in the Lower House, consider that they have fulfilled their duty during the Diet session just ending, the chief secretaries of both parties declared. PUBLISHED BY 26. —The 74th Diet was formally adjourned with the reading by Premier Hiranuma of an Imperial message ordering The International Association of Japan the Diet to close. The session approved a budget of nearly ¥10,000,000,000 and passed 89 Government meas­ ures, leaving nothing undone. Parts I and II of Volume I of “ Diplomatic 28. —A Ministerial funeral service was held for the late Am­ Documents of Japan,” compiled by the Investi­ bassador to France, Dr. Yotaro Sugimura, at the Tsukiji gation Bureau of the Foreign Office, have just Honga-n Temple. Foreign Minister Hachiro Ar it a read a come off the press. eulogy in the presence of other Japanese officials and This is the first official history of Japanese members of the foreign diplomatic corps. diplomacy in modern times to be compiled from 29. —Japan is not taking sides in the opposing blocs of totali­ materials in the Foreign Office archives. Part I tarian and democratic states in Europe, Premier Hiranu­ covers the period from October 14, 1868, when ma intimated to newspapermen covering the Cabinet. He Yoshinobu, the last of the Tokugawa Shoguns, also said there will be no statement on the anti-Comin- restored the administrative authority to the tern pact in the immediate future. Throne, to June 30, 1868 (the first year of Meiji); —Seigo Nakano, Tohokai party president, whose expulsion while Part II chronicles the series of diplomatic from the Diet was demanded a short time ago because events from the first of July to the end of of his absence on a trip to China, returned and promptly December of 1868. There is no other official tendered his resignation as a member of the Lower House. history of Japanese diplomacy, except for the 30. —The Cabinet formally approved a draft Imperial ordinance Zoku Tsushin Zenran compiled between 1874 and invoking Article 11 of the National General Mobilization 1879 dealing with the period between January of Law pertaining to control of company profits and financ­ the first year of Bunkyu (1861) to August of the ing. first year of Meiji (1868). Nothing was compiled 31. —Spratley Islands (Shinnan Gunto) have been placed un­ after that date until the present work was taken der the jurisdiction of the Formosan Government-General, up. the Foreign Office announced after French Ambassador The project was started at the suggestion of Charles Arsene-Henry had been notified of the move. The former Foreign Minister Baron Kijuro Shidehara, islands, said to be little more than reefs, are in the South and the compilation of Volume I was undertaken China Sea at a point about 300 miles southeast of French by a staff of seven compilers under the direction Indo-China, 340 miles northwest of British North Borneo of Mr. Yasukichi Nagata, Head of the First and 370 miles west of the Philippines. Section of the Research Bureau of the Foreign —After obtaining Imperial sanction, the Government pro­ Office. The compilation of the work will be mulgated the Imperial ordinance governing factory wages continued as a permanent project until it shall and working hours under Article 6 of the National Gen­ have been brought down to date. eral Mobilization Law. An ordinance setting up the The book is in Japanese and entitled “ Dai- Wages Commission, which is to determine initial wages nippon Gaiko Bunsho,” which means Diplomatic and other matters under the wage ordinance, was also Documents of Japan. The more important diplo­ promulgated. matic documents and correspondence, however, are all reproduced in the original foreign lan­ guages. Each volume will contain more than two books of 1000 pages each. One volume will £ WK 7 A & #6 2 be devoted to each year of Japans modern © A WK rFM ® St Tfc 7 “-t £ W diplomatic history. 0J BO 0r wKm awr is w w _ 7 ~o Wiil: - y • y > x The publication is being presented only in a limited edition, and will therefore be soon out jk # nr ft nr k a ' of print. Libraries and other institutions which ® n st KBttA h * a & & # are contemplating the purchase of a complete 51-ASS ft/ft BAARS, BASIS set of the publication are advised not to lose any time in ordering the books already published K « + » » » = al and in placing advance orders for the forth­ Price per copy: 10 sen Postage: 3 sen coming issues.

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