JAPAN REPLIES TO BRITISH PROTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 308, 29 December 1937, Page 7

JAPAN REPLIES TO BRITISH PROTEST.

SHIPS ATTACKED.

Unusual Delay in Release Of Contents. INEXPERIENCED AIRMEN? '► Cnitocl Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, December 28The Japanese Cabinet has approved the. reply to Britain's Note regarding the attack on H.M.S. Ladybird. The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Koki Hi rot a, then reported to the Emperor and later handed the Note to Sir Robert Craigie, British Ambassador. It is believed the Note complies with the iecpiests for an apology, indemnities and guarantees against non-recurrence. The Foreign Office announced that the contents of the Xote would not be released at present and so far no date has been given. Most informed circles believe the reply is similar to that to America on the Pa nay incident, although the delay in publication has caused some circles to surmise that it will contain matter hitherto unrevealed, says the United Press. "The Times" Tokyo correspondent sa.vs it is believed the reply will point out that airmen who bombed H.M.S. Scarab and Cricket were experiencing only their fourth day on active service! The correspondent adds that the reply will claim that when the Japanese battery fired on the Ladybird on the 'iangtso the visibility was very poor. The Japanese troops had moved up rapidly from Shanghai, and according to the Japanese case, knew nothing , of the river or its shipping. Japanese unit commanders had assumed that all foreign ships had left the battle zone. It will he suggested, says the correspondent, that the circumstances prove that the attacks on British ships were errors committed in the heat of battle. It will be frankly admitted that mistakes were made.