OBSTACLES TO AN AGREEMENT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 262, 3 August 1939, Page 9

OBSTACLES TO AN AGREEMENT

A Dual Compromise Necessary DEPENDS ON JAPAN’S ATTITUDE _____ By Telegraph.—-Presri Assn. —Copyright. (Received August 2, 10.35 p.m.) LONDON, August 2. The Tokio correspondent of the British United Press says that the success of negotiations on the Tientsin dispute depends on whether Japan compromises on the silver currency issues. Britain is reported to be willing to surrender the silver in the concession if the Japanese-controlled Hopeh-Chahar Political Council establishes proof of its previous ownership, and also if Japan relaxes her demands regarding British support for the Chinese currency. Although then- are no official reports to the same elTect, vernacular newspapers assert that Britain has finally recognized Japan’s claim to Chinese specie deposited in Tientsin, and also declare that. Britain has agreed to hand over the four Chinese prisoners held in the concession. A communique states that the subcommittee investigating the silver question has finished its discussions and reported. The sub-committee on peace aud order in Tientsin has completed its examination of pending questions. The “Asahi Shhubun” says that the Japanese delegates to the Anglo-Japan-ese conference are demanding rhe appointment of 30 .Japanese gendarmes to police and judicial positions within the British concession in Tientsin. The newspaper “Niehi Nielli Shimbun” reports that the British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, called on the Japanese diplomat Mr. Kato and declared that Britain might, discontinue the negotiations unless Japan strictly controlled the anti-British movement in China aud Japan. Sir William Craigie asked that this be conveyed to the Foreign Minister. Mr. Arita. Mr. Kato replied that the anti-British movement, and the Tokio negotiations were entirely separate affairs. He added that, rhe demonstrations in Japan were spontaneoustind not sponsored by the (government, which would interfere only if law and order were endangered. He denied that Japan was connected with the movement in China.