Evening star., 1934-06-03
What Mr.. Saito Says

There are four points explained
Mr.. Saito, which seem to have
aroused Soviet anxiety: First, the
so-called invasion by Japan of Man.
churia; second, the increase in Jap
anese armament; third, Japanese
plans for railroad construction in
Manchukuo; finally, the prevalence of
frontier Incidents
"The Russians themselves have had
experience of misrule and bad faith
of the former Chinese war lords in
Manchuria. In 1929 the Soviet found
It necessary to bring the war lord
to order by an armed attack.
Rights Recognized.
Japan has twice staked her ma
tional security upon great wars to
maintain her rights and defend her
nationals in Manchuria. Our rights
of a special nature were recognized
and established by treaty. When we
saw they were being violated in the
most cynical and shocking way. the
whole Japanese nation, not merely a
military clique, was determined to
defend them.
IL Was d CdSc uOG Vi dsSI CSSlO1l,
but of legitimate Self-defense, JUS
titled by our past sacrifices and by
the necessity to restore conditions
that would insure the safety and
right to live and do business not
only of japanese or Koreans, but of
other foreigners and of the peaceful
Chinese population. as we'll. Japan,
as a nation, is unanimous in the
determination to end misgovernment
in the Manchurian regions
"As regards armament. there are
two points l wish to emphasize. First,
that Japan took comparatively little
part in the World War and that,
in consequence. she failed to effect
a wholesale reorganization and mod
ernization of military and naval es-
tablishments, as was done by the
powers more deeply engaged. At
later date, our efforts in this direc-
ton were hampered by the earth
quake disaster. Only recently have
we been able to set about bringing
our forces up to date and supplying
them with the modern equipment the
lessons of the war have introduced
elsewhere.
Aims Misrepresented.
Second. my country realizes that
our aims and purposes in Man
chukuo have been misrepreSented
and distorted, in some cases wilfully,
and that it is possible attempts may
be made to check and hinder us,
especially if it is thought we are
weak and unable to resist outside
pressure. For that reason, too. the
country has willingly shouldered the
burden of re-equipment and mod
ernization.
AS for the new railroads, let me
say that, without exception, they were
planned long before Japan created
the state of Manchukuo. mostly by
Chinese. but, in other cases, by Rus
SLAMS and Americans, to develop natu-
raj resources or open rich new regions
A glance at the map shows the
economic Importance of the two rail-
roads running to the Amur frontier in
the neighborhood of BlagoveshchenSk
When they are linked with the Soviet
rail system by bridges across the
Amur, they will be immensely prof1ta-
BILE to the trade development of both
countries.
Finally, the Importance of Incl
dents in so vast and savage country.
infested by bandits. can easily be
exaggerated. 1t is not in the least
comparable to what might occur in
the more thickly populated territory
of Western Europe. I am aware that
an incident can be magnifed If one
Or both sides so desire. but I know
Japan has no such wish and I give
the Russians credit for equal re-
straint. The fact that the incidents
in the past have been amicably set
tied is the best proof of what I say.
And the same applies to other mat
ters of dispute between the two coun-
tries, which are being settled and
will be settled by peaceful negotia-
fiOOS