Evening star., 1932-11-01
FRANC0-JAPANF!sE
SECRET PACT SEEN
S10O, 900, 900 Loan Reported
as Adjunct to Treaty Now
in Negotiation.
BY JUNIUS B. WOOD.

" ASs V0oDs
By Cable to The Star
TOXIC, November Represents
tives of Japan and France are negotiat-
ing at Paris a secret treaty Of amity
and alliance, according to insistent dec
larations here today by those close to
that portion Of official circles not In
sympathy with the militant Fascists
fighting to control the destiny Of the
Nipponese empire.
AS an adjunct to the alleged proposed
treaty, these same informants declare,
500 100000 gold franc loan fsl00,-
900 ,OO0), binding the fortunes Of France
and Japan, is also under consideration.
This loan is described as taking the
form Of commercial credits for the pur-
chase Of French goods, and starting In
September, it Is said, substantial In
roads have been made on the drawing
accounts almost exclusively for war
munitions, which Japan needs in large
quantities both for its present venture
in Manchuria and as reserve supply
for future contingencies.
Spokesmen Deny Pact.
Those authorized to speak for either
government here deny the truth Of the
foregoing disclosures by Paciflst lead
ers, insisting that the allegations have
no foundation or only slight founda-
ton in fact Other foreign diplomatic
circles also say they are uniformed as
to this reported negotiation beyond the
fact that Japan has tentatively sounded
out various powers, centertng its EFFORTS
on France, for support Of Japans con-
tentions at the forthcoming discussions
Of the Manchurian situation before the
League Of Nations.
There is possibility that such q
treaty with France is directly connected
with proposal by the Soviet Union for
nom aggression pact with Japan
year ago. After lying on the shelf since
then, this Russian suggestion has today
become an acute subject OF discussion.
A RuSso-Japanese pact, 1t is declared,
would hamper the ambition Of Japan's
militant Fascist groups to extend the
present military operations in China
and Manchuria into Siberia. while CO.
operation with France might further
their plans, as Paris has been peeyed
at Moscow ever since the bolshevik re-
gime repudiated Frances big loans 70
Czarist Russia
Repercussions Of such an alignment
would be felt in Europe. and not the
least Of the possible eventualities. it is
said. would probably be an abrupt
termination Of the treaty negotiations
between Paris and Moscow which have
been running intermittently for a couple
OF years. Frances influence also might
be expected to bring the smaller Gen.
trail European States into line at the
coming League session.
May Present Soviet Offer.
Insiders say that japanese Premier
VScount Makoto Saito has privately
decided to present the long shelved
Soviet proposal for a non-aggression
pact TO the japanese cabinet within a
few days. This would be a distinctive
gesture in the interests of the future
peace of this turbulent half OF the
world But 1t also would accentuate
the present cleavage among all classes
, Of japanese society on the nations
present course.
While the younger Fascist element of
the japanese Army supports Lieut.. Gen.
larger group in the army backs the
more peaceful policy led by Gen.
Kazunari Ngaki, governor of Korea.
On the other hand. art Of the capi-
talist group. chiefly the industrialists,
favors bigger and better military activi-
ties, while the so-called thinkers are
hopelessly divided as between National
lists ready to venture all under the
colors of patriotism; imperialists fear
ing contamination through friendship
with any government advocating Com
munism. and conservatives believing
that a democratic government can best
survive by peace and friendships with
its neighbors.
Approaching the fact that as soon
as the pact Is officially presented all
these differences will come to the sur
face, with possibly serious disorders.
compromisers led by Foreign Minister
Count Yasuya Uchida are now endeav-
oring to mollify the militarists with
the suggestion that naturally a Siberian
aggressive pact would operate for
only one year.
Copyright. 1922