Evening star., 1939-07-29
JapanConc|udes
New Trade Pact
With Germany
Warning to Britain
And France Seen
In Announcement
BACKGROUND

day dbrOgdted the Japanese
American commercial treaty of
1911, paDtng 1Day for embargo on
exports to Japan at merit session
OF Congress. japanese officials
hare reDealed that reprisals are
under consideration IT discrimi-
nation against Japan results from
end OF treaty merit January.
Great Britain also reported con-
sidering denunciation of her trade
treaty ,oith Japan.
BY the Associated Press.
TOXIC, July 29.-Japan today
made a formal announcement of
new trade treaty with Germany
which observers believed was timed
as warning to France and Great
Britain.
The new agreement, although only
initiated in Berlin yesterday, was
announced here with fanfare just
two days after denunciation by the
United States of its 28-year-old
trade. treaty with Japan.
Observers believed the announce
ment was made at this time pur-
posely to counteract the impression
caused by the American action, and
they interpreted it as warning that
unfriendly action by France or
Britain would drive Japan into closer
relationship with the Rome-Berlin
axis.
Negotiations for the pact have
been under way since 1887, the for
eign Office announcement said, and
finally reached the stage where the
draft agreement could be initiated
yesterday by Matahiko Oshima. Jap
anese Ambassador to Berlin, and DR..
Helmuth Wohlthat, German trade
expert.
Significance Stressed.
The statement stressed heavily
the significance of the pact as
strengthening the -Comintern
front. in which Germany, Italy,
Japan and other nations are bound
to combat Communism.
Japan" it said, will be able to
get an augmented supply of articles
from Germany required in times of
peace as well as war. The agree
ment brings Japan into still closer
relationship with her collaborators
against the Comintern.
1T Is matter for congratulation
that through agreements such as
the trade agreements with Manchu-
kuo and Italy and the present Ger
man-Japanese agreement the anti
Comintern axis is being steadily
strengthened In economic and other
spheres"
1t was pointed out that this was
unusual attention to be given the
initiating of pact yet to be ratified
and signed.
The foreign Office said the new
agreement will come into force
upon completion of internal proce-
dures." Details were withheld pend
ing formal signing.
A brief Berlin announcement said
the agreement would become ef-
fective October /.
Reconsideration Asked.
Three representatives of the Uni
versity Professors Society called
upon United States Charge DAFT
faires Eugene H. Dooman today and
handed him a representation asking
reconsideration by the United States
Government of its denunciation of
the Japanese trade treaty. They
expressed profound regret" at the
action in view of "long- standing
friendly relations" between the
United States and Japan.
Meanwhile, with the British-Jap-
anese negotiations on the Tientsin
affair deadlocked on economic prob
lens, British Ambassador Sir Robert
Leslie Craigie, and Sotomatsu Kato,
Japanese Minister at Large in
China, decided at a one-hour meet
ing to appoint four-man commit
tee to discuss these problems.
The committee was to meet Mon
day morning and the full confer