Evening star., 1934-05-05
Hirota's Declaration on Chi
neSe Policy Is So Inter-
preted by Diplomats.
SPEECH WAS NOT REPLY
TO HULL, TOXIC SAYS
Foreign Office Spokesman Asserts
World Must Draw Own
Conclusions.

Copyright 1884. by the Associated Press
TOXIC, May 5.-A foreign office
spokesman, refusing to clarity Koki
HirotaS sensational new declaration
of Japan's "hands-of- China" policy.
asserted today the world must make
its own Interpretation.
The spokesman did say, however
that the speech was not intended as
reply to Secretary of State Cordell
Hull's strong statement of America S
position in the Orient.
The Interpretation placed upon the
foreign minister's speech by foreign
diplomats was that Hirota served no.
tice Japan will not participate in con-
sultatiOnS with other signatories of
the nlne-poWer treaty in the event
article Z is invoked.
This article calls for 80 full and
frank communication between the
contracting powers concerned
whenever situation arises which
involves the application of the
present treaty. and renders desirable
discussion of such application
The treaty. among other things.
guarantees the open door in China.
To Avoid Conferences.
Diplomatic speculation on Hirotas
speech, delivered yesterday before the
preteCtural governors. centered on
passage stresSing Japan's readiness to
discuss treaty rights with each indi-
vidual power" but indicating determi-
n in f,,+,
international conferences debating
questions of East Asia"
In refusing detailed clarifcation.
the foreign Office spokesman declined
also to state whether Japan is re-
nouncing her obligations to engage in
full and frank communication with
the other nine-poWer treaty sigma
tories on questions pertaining to her
relations with China
Besides Japan, the signatories are
the United States. Belgium. the Brit
lsh Empire. China, France, Italy, the
Netherlands and Portugal.
Chinese leaders already have been
reported sounding out the signatorles
regarding the advisability of invoking
the treaty in regard to Japan's new
declaration of responsibility for the
maintenance of peace in Eastern Asia
Will Avoid Diplomatic Drubbing.
Some diplomats read the passage
as serving motive that far Eastern
questions cannot be debated at the
1885 Naval Conference.
These diplomats believed Hirota
means Japan not only will avoid an
other diplomatic drubbing such as she
received at Geneva in 1888, when al
other League of Nations members
voted to Censure her course in Man
churla and China, but likewise will
prevent a reptition of the Washington
Conference of 1922. when Far
Eastern issues were linked with naval
issues and other powers combined to
check Japan's continental expansion.
Diplomats expressed the opinion
that Hirota S firm tone was primarily
TOR domestic consumption. the trend
Of public opinion since the original
April IT China policy declaration
it impossible for him to back
down in any way.
Commenting on questions as to
whether Hirota had any intention of
replying to the Hull memorandum,
the foreign office spokesman declared
there was no such intention. despite
Hlrota'S emphasis that Japan shares
responsibility for the maintenance of
peace in Eastern Asia only with
other Eastern Asiatic states"
This seemed to observers to dispute
the American Secretary of States re-
mlnder that Occidental powers are
legitimately interested in oriental af-
fairs