UNABLE TO CLOSE BURMA ARNS ROUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 161, 9 July 1940, Page 7

UNABLE TO CLOSE BURMA ARNS ROUTE.

BRITAIN'S REPLY.

Japan Dissatisfied, Asks Reconsideration. : V.S. MARINES OFFEND JAPS; : United Press Association'.—Copyright.'■ (Received 11 a.m.) " )?''■ TOKYO', July 8/ An authoritative report states that Britain has asserted that the closure of the Burma route to China is incompatible with Britain's commitments to Burma and India. A Javanese Foreign Oilice spokesman, in a statement, said that Sir Robert Craigie, British Ambassador, visited Mr. Aritii, the Foreign Minister. In a reply to Japan he said the export of military ; supplies through Hongkong hitherto has been strenuously prohibited, which the British believe meets Japanese demands.

The Ambassador said it was difficult to prohibit legal trade on the Burma ltoad. Moreover, the rainy season begins at the end of June, which is likely to result in a very heavy slump in the transit of goods over this route.

The spokesman described the reply as unsatisfactory.

Mr. Arita expressed dissatisfaction and emphatically reiterated the Japanese view, and urged Britain to reconsider the position.

The Ambassador to-day delivered the British reply to the recent Japanese representations, states a British official wireless message. Sir Robert Craigie's report of his interview with Mr. Arita has not yet been received in London, but any observations which Mr. Arita may have put forward will receive the same careful consideration as his original representations. Reported Seizure of British Ships. The British Associated Press correspondent at Hongkong says the Domei news agency lias received a report from Hanoi, in Fronch Indo-China, that the authorities yesterday seized all the British vessels at Haiphong, the chief port of Indo-China. There is no confirmation of the report here. Tito Shanghai correspondent of the Domei news,agency stated that Japan may be forced to' change her attitude in Indo-China, due to the alleged continued transport of supplies to Chungking.

An earlier message said the Japanese Foreign Oflice denied that the Japanese Government was discriminating between Britain and Russia regarding her protest over the arms traffic to China through Burma.

"When and how the Japanese Government would protest to the Soviet regarding the transport of arms to Chungking, wo cannot say at present," said the Japanese spokesman. It is officially stated from Hongkong that the shipping services between Hongkong and Indo-China have been resumed, following agreement between Britain and France. Japs. Angry at U.S. Marines. The. Japanese Army is threatening a serious incident over the arrest of 10 armed Japanese plain-clothes men by United States marines. Japanese entered the defence sector of the International Settlement at Shanghai, violating the agreement, but were released after a Japanese apology.

The matter is believed to have been settled, but the' Japanese deny having given an apology. They allege the murines assaulted several prisoners and treated all like condemned criminals.