The following statement is issued as a result of the conversations which have recently been held between the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and the French Ambassador:
The Government of the Republic of France fully recognize the actual situation in China where hostilities on a large scale are in progress and note that, so long as that state of affairs continues to exist, the Japanese Forces in China have special requirements for the purpose of safeguarding their own security and maintaining public order in the regions under their control and that they have to suppress or remove any such acts or causes as will obstruct them or benefit their enemy. The French Government have no intention of countenancing any acts or measures prejudicial to the attainment of the above-mentioned objects by the Japanese Forces and they will take this opportunity to confirm their policy in this respect by making it plain to the French authorities and French nationals in China that they should refrain from such acts and measures.