DEADLOCK CONTINUES AT TIENTSIN

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22747, 27 June 1939, Page 9

DEADLOCK CONTINUES AT TIENTSIN

1 I British Subjects

shipping RESTRICTIONS REVIVED AT SWATOW

Reported American Move for Joint Naval Blockade

The deadlock in the situation at Tientsin continues. No reply has been received from the Japanese Government to the protests addressed to it by Sir Robert Craigie, the British Ambassador in Tokyo. In .the meantime further indignities have been inflicted on British subjects by Japanese sentries at the Tientsin concession.

A Hong Kong report says the Japanese have reimposed the blockade on Swatow and foreign ships are required to give 24 hours’ notice of entry into Swatow. Two British steamers were refused permission to load cargoes for Hong Kong, where the food situation has become grave.

The British and American Consuls at Swatow informed the Japanese Consul that steamers would continue to be sent under naval escort. The warships Thanet and Pillsbury are standing by in Swatow harbour. • .

Official circles in the United Stat.es, it is reported, are discussing a British-American long-range naval blockade “as a means of filing down the Japanese militery caste to its proper proportions.” Indignation is expressed in New York at the indignities imposed on Britons.

lEADLOCK AT TIENTSIN

Yojßeply From Tokyo WITHER PROTEST BY AMBASSADOR TSITZD PRESS . ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (Received’ June 27, *2 a.m.y -' TOKYO, June 26. The total absence of an official declaration by the Central Government regarding Tientsin, for Vhlcfa Britain is waiting, continues the deadlock in the Far Eastern situation. The Japanese Foreign Office spokesman (Mr Tatsuo Kawai) laid the Government was still waiting for a detailed report ; tom Tientsin, and it was therefore impossible to reply to Sir Robert Cralgie’s protest of last week. He added that replies to foe local protests at Tientsin - aad Kulangsu were probably unnecessary since oral explanations had already been given. He repeated the assertions that there was no discrimination against British nationals, and that the indignities were overmagnified. Sir Robert Craigie has again protested more sharply to the Foreign Minister (Mr Arita) in connexion with the searching ©! Mr Davis and Mr and Mrs Finlay. A spokesman the Japanese War fee declared that if British pro9stination had not been exasperatfo the Japanese would not have toe so far. He added that their kkade had not been in vain if it ai led the British to reconsider the fly of their policy towards Marshal uang Kai-shek.

iEXT MOVE AGAINST FOOGHOW iPANESE NAVAL AND AERIAL ACTIVITY REPORTED i (Received June 26, 9 p.m.) | .SHANGHAI, June 26. formed AQ’iinese predict that the **t will be.directed fcinst Foochow, in the neighboured of which renewed Japanese fral and aerial activity is reported, fhis is believed to foreshadow a lading at the mouth of the Min Ter . the Japanese are alpatrolling.

iPANESE THREAT TO NINGPO bombings in eastern KWANTUNG SHANGHAI, June 25. Japanese forces now menace the port of Ningpo. Japanese communique reports Saval landing at Chusan Island, H*-®® the adjacent Taishan Island, ® the object of cutting off Ning- * seaborne trade, hundred Japanese aeroplanes ®*>ed a wide area of Eastern jsntung in an attempt to halt the Jwse reinforcements going to alow. aeroplanes wrought havoc JHngshing, and 50 deaths are reS? from Chinghai as a result of

NAZI MINISTER’S TAUNT

“ENGLAND * STANDS AS AN IDIOT” NO FORCE BEHIND THREATS TO JAPAN BERLIN, June 25. The Nazi Minister for Propaganda (Dr. Gobbels), in a speech, referred to Mr Chamberlain’s speech and said: “England stands as an idiot and she cannot compete with our might. “It does not matter if English Ministers attempt to threaten. There is no force behind their threats. The Japanese strip the English naked and they can do nothing.” Herr Hitler, addressing at Munich 500 Italian former servicemen who are touring Germany, said: “Italy and Germany will always march together to the same goal. Anyone seeking to tear the bonds will face determin'd resistance by the Axis Powers. I am convinced that any attempt on the part of the democracies and capitalist plutocracies to produce the fate for which they have planned will fail through the strength of our ideals. "A period of long life belongs to those races which are prepared to stake everything for their existence. It is my belief that all demands from the outside will break down before Italian-German unity, and that the future will belong to us.”

JAPANESE RENEW BLOCKADE

Loading of Cargo At Swatow Banned FOOD SITUATION GRAVE AT HONG KONG (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (Received June 26, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 25. The Hong Kong correspondent of the “Dailv Telegraph” says that in spite of assurances to the contrary, Japan has reimposed the blockade at Swatow. Japanese authorities refused to allow two British steamers to load cargo for Hong Kong. The food situation at Hong Kong and Kulangsu is grave. The Shanghai correspondent of “The Times” says the Japanese are insisting on 12 hours’ notice before any foreign ship enters Swatow. The correspondent of the British United Press at Swatow reports that the Japanese barricaded the British wharves with barbed wire. Ships were unable to load or discharge or take on urgently-needed supplies for Kulangsu because of the complete absence of Chinese labour. The local British and American Consuls protested against the Japanese sentries preventing the disembarkation of passengers and warned the Japanese Consul that it was intended to continue sending merchantmen to Swatow under naval escort. The warships Thanet and Pillsbury are standing by. The escort vessel Scout has left for Hong Kong. The Japanese informed the British authorities at Shanghai that they would allow only one ship weekly at Swatow. The British naval authorities repeated the Consul’s earlier warning, insisting on unrestricted entry.