THE BLOCKADE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 224, 5 July 1939, Page 5

THE BLOCKADE

ILL-TREATMENT OF NATIONALS.

BRITISH WARNING TO JAPAN.

QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS

'United Press Association— Copyright. 1

LONDON, July 3

Answering a question in the House of Commons on the insults received by British, nationals at Tientsin, the Un-der-Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler) replied: “Until this morning there had been no reports for some days of British subjects being subjected to indignities. The Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax) has not received any official confirmation of the incident reported in to-day’s press, involving a young British subject. The British Ambassador (Sir Robert Craigie) has been instructed to inform Japan that any deliberate ill-treatment of British subjects must imperil the success of the negotiations in Tokio.” The British Government, he said, had no official confirmation that the Tientsin blockade was being intensified. Asked if Japan had submitted any evidence showing the guilt of the four Chinese suspects at Tientsin, Mr Butler replied: “I am not prepared to add anything to what has already been said on this point in view of the fact that the conversations in Tokio are about to start.” r

Mr Arthur Greenwood (Labour) asked for an assurance that these men would not be handed over.

Mr Butler replied that there was no intention of handing the men over, pending the negotiations. Mr Butler also said’ that arrangements were being made for the evacuation of British subjects who wished to leave Foochow. He understood that the foreign community proposed to remain at Wenchow, where there were at present 11 British subjects. Further proposals for a settlement of the Kulangsu situation had recently been made to the Kulangsu Municipal Council by the Japanese, and these were under consideration.—British Official Wireless.

INSULTS AT TIENTSIN.

BRITISH GROWING RESTIVE.

WEAK OFFICIAL ATTITUDE.

TIENTSIN, July 4

British subjects in the Concession are growing restive under what is regarded so far as the weak attitpdo of Britain against Japanese insults. The residents have shown the greatest patience under the greatest provocation, but they now feel that Britain must, insist on respect for her nationals during the negotiations.

The food shortage in the concession has become more acute. No milk, meat, or fish is available, and the blockade has been extended to cover coal and firewood.

The food restrictions were imposed to affect the Chinese in the hope that they will blame the British.

JAPANESE CLAIM SUCCESS.

MONGOLIAN FORCE ANNIHILATED

(Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, July 4

The Tokio correspondent of “The Times’’ says that, the Japanese claim that the Kwantung army annihilated' 4000 Mongols at the Klialaba river.

VALUE OF CHINESE DOLLAR.

BRITISH POLICY NOT CHANGED

(Received This Day, 11,35 a.m.) LONDON, July 4

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon) was asked in the House of Commons if it was still Britain’s policy to support the exchange value of the Chinese dollar. He replied that he saw no reason to depart from the view that stability of the Chinese currency was of the greatest importance from the point of view of British interests and those of other countries which had economic and financial relations with China.— British Official Wireless.