BRITISH POLICY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 72, 18 December 1937, Page 9

BRITISH POLICY

Condemned By Meeting

At Osaka

JAPANESE ASSURANCE Tokio Ambassador’s Talk With Mr. Hirota SETTLEMENT MEASURES By Telegraph.—Press Assn .—Copyright. (Received December 17, 7.30 p.m.) London, December 17. The Hong-Kong correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that at an anti-Britisli meeting at Osaka a resolution was passed condemning the alleged British policy of aiding China, opposing British economic plans and condemning any attempt at British intervention in Sino-Japanese hostilities.

The British Ambassador to Tokio, Sir Robert Craigie, bad an hour’s talk with the Foreign Minister, Mr. Hirota, who is understood to have assured the Ambassador that the Government will do its utmost to endeavour to prevent, a recurrence of incidents in China and take appropriate measures for settlement of the affair. A British Official Wireless message from Rugby reports that, feeling in Britain generally approves the firmly-worded Note _of protest delivered by the British Ambassador to the Japanese Government. The Note is also favourably commented on in Parliamentary circles. Debate in Commons. Tlie Government has agreed to a request by the Opposition for a debate on foreign affairs next Tuesday, when the situation in the Far East is expected to figure prominently in the discussion.

The full text of the British Note was telegraphed to Washington for the information of the United States Government before it was handed in at Tokio.

Commenting on the Britisli Note, “The Times” says: “Mere recital of the circumstances of the attack is a damning indictment of Japanese irresponsibility. There are only two possible deductions to be drawn from phis hooliganism. It was either a deliberate attempt to test the reactions of tne Powers concerned, or it must be concluded that, save for the small upper class, no Japanese can be trusted to carry firearms, even in the Emperor’s service, because he is too ignorant and too irresponsible not to run amuck without provocation. The fact that no fewer than 13 apologies have already been proffered to the British and American Governments and their •representatives is sufficient indication of the state of mind of responsible statesmen in Tokio.”-

The “Daily Mail” states that the British Note speaks wholly in the name of the British people. Other papers comment on tlie same lines.