CIVILIAN SAFETY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 200, 24 August 1937, Page 7

CIVILIAN SAFETY.

BRITISH PROPOSAL. China's Attitude On the Whole Favourable. JAPAN AND WITHDRAWAL. British Official Wireless. (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, August 23. The British Government is still rt'.lhout any reply from the Japanese , and Chinese Governments to the suggestion made for the restoration of the situation at Shanghai which, according to t> (lay's news telegrams, j continues to deteriomie. Reactions to the Uritisli proposals in semi-official circles in Tokyo appear tn have been unsympathetic, which lias caused disappointment here. On the Japanese side it has been strongly emphasised that Japan will not tolerate foreign intervention, but it is pointed out that the British project does not in any sense imply intervention, and is merely a request to both sides to withdraw from the area in which foreign interests are heavily involved. In Nanking, although there has been no official reply, reaction is understood to have been on the whole favourable, and this fact has been noted with : satisfaction. Proposals for the mutually agreed withdrawal of forces not in conflict from the Shanghai zone were made with a view to securing isolation, from warlike operations, of the International Settlement, wljpre many countries, and Britain in an outstanding measure, have very large financial, commercial and industrial interests, and where a large foreign population resides. British authorities are providing protection for their nationals against attack, but so long as hostilities are actively pursued around the Concessions there can be no assurance against accidental death or injury. Precaution is being taken, therefore, of evacuating women and children whose temporary absence will not cause great inconvenience, but the author of a story which received some circulation, that was discussion of evacuation of all British civilians from Shanghai, would seem to have overlooked the categorical statement by the Ministers, after their meeting last Thursday, that they had decided to take all possible measures to protect the safety of British in the International Settlement, and to protect British interests there.