Considering the possibility of the war in Europe spreading to the Netherlands, the Japanese Government made public on the 15th of April their attitude of deep concern over any development that may affect the status quo of the Netherlands East Indies, and subsequently they notified the Netherlands Government to that effect. In connection with this, the Netherlands Government expressed their determination not to alter their policy of maintaining the status quo of the said Netherlands colony under any circumstances.
As the European war has now spread to the Netherlands, the Foreign Minister, Mr. Hachiro Arita, invited the Netherlands Minister at Tokyo, General J. C. Pabst, to the Foreign Office this afternoon and informed the latter that the Japanese Government earnestly hope that the Netherlands Government will firmly maintain their said determination regarding the question of the Netherlands East Indies.
The Foreign Minister has also called the attention of the representatives in Tokyo of the belligerent countries, namely Great Britain, Germany and France, to Japan's concern over the said question.
The Foreign Minister has informed the representatives of the two neutral countries, the United States and Italy, for their reference, the fact that the Japanese Government made the above notification to the Governments of the belligerent countries concerned.