JAPAN APOLOGISES TO MR. EDEN

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 70, 16 December 1937, Page 7

JAPAN APOLOGISES TO MR. EDEN

Promise Of Indemnity ATTACKS ON BRITISH SHIPS Profound Regret Tendered (British Official Wireless.) (Received December 15, 5 p.m.) Rugby, December 14. The Japanese Ambassador to London called on the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, to-day to offer the apologies of his Government for the attacks on His Majesty’s ships. He stated that his Government was not yet in full possession of the facts, but was actively pressing its inquiries. Full responsibility for the bombing and shelling of both British and American vessels in the Yangtze during the week-end has been accepted by the. Japanese Minister in Tokio, who expressed profound regret at the loss of life and injury caused. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hoki Hirota, who called on the British Ambassador to Tokio, Sir Robert Craigie, to convey these expressions, stated that the Japanese Government had not then received particulars, and promised a further communication when they had ( arrived. Mr. Eden’s Statement. Answering a question in the House of Commons, Mr. Eden stated that the Government had under urgent consideration the position created through the attacks on shipping in the Yangtze and expected to be able to make a statement on the position to-morrow. A later Press Association cablegram from Tokio states that the Japanese Government has handed a Note to Sir Robert Craigie profoundly regretting the attack on British ships in the Yangtze River, and promising to deal with those responsible and make the necessary indemnification. The British and American Governments remain in consultation. While feeling in Britain is restrained, the newspapers express with considerable vigour the extreme tedium and impatience that is felt at the repeated incidents which hare occurred, culminating in the extraordinary events during the week-end. Routine Apologies. The view is widely expressed in the newspapers that something more is required from Japan than routine apologies, which have been received so often but which are in effect followed by further episodes displaying complete disregard by the Japanese military in the field for the rights and interests of other countries. BERLIN’S COMPLAINT Attack On British Ship Berlin, December 14. The Foreign Office has complained to the Japanese Embassy against continuous artillery and aerial attacks bn December 11 and 12 on the British steamer Wangpu, on which there were German Embassy officials from Nanking. In view of Germany’s cordial relations with Japan, although she has not yet broken off diplomatic relations with the Chinese Generalissimo, Marshall Chiang Kai-shek, the Press has been forbidden to report any representations made to Japan regarding the bombing by Japanese of the Wangpu.