BRITISH NOTE TO JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22610, 16 January 1939, Page 9

BRITISH NOTE TO JAPAN

Nine-Power Treaty

Upheld

“OPEN DOOR” IN ! CHINA _____ i - i i Policy Interpretation Requested (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received January 15, 9.15 p.m.) TOKYO, January 14. The British Ambassador (Sir Robert Craigie) delivered a British Note to the Japanese Foreign Minister (Mr H. Arita) disclaiming any Japanese right to establish an economic bloc, with China to the detriment of the trading interests of the parties to the Nine-Power Pact. The Note closely follows the lines of the United States Note, and requests a precise and detailed interpretation of the new Japanese policy ip China, which has been outlined in statements by Prince Konoye and Mr Arita. Britain reiterates her adherence to the principles oP the Nine-Power Pact, and declines to agree to unilateral modifications of the “open door” policy.

The Note adds: “It is realised that treaties sometimes require revision through the passage of time.” It states that Britain is prepared to discuss constructive suggestions for modification of the treaty, and that Britain feels that the proper time for such discussions would be the cessation of hostilities in China.

Nevertheless, Britain is prepared to receive the Japanese views immediately.

SCRAP-IRON FOR

JAPAN

SYDNEY UNIONS* THREAT TO GOVERNMENT

EXTENSION OF WATERSIDERS* STRIKE

SYDNEY, January 14.

The waterside dispute at Port Kembla, through the workers’ refusal to load scrap-iron for Japan, has taken a more serious turn, A conference of union officials decided on an ultimatum to the Federal Government that, unless an early settlement was reached, they would extend the strike to the Broken Hill Proprietary’s Port Kembla steel works and to the same company’s Newcastle workshops. They will also endeavour to involve the waterside workers in all Australian ports. However, if the Government agrees.to ban all exports to Japan, the waterside workers at Port Kembla will agree to load the Dalfram, the vessel which they originally refused to load.