GRAVE CONCERN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 26, 1 February 1932, Page 7

GRAVE CONCERN

BEITISH GOVERNMENT

STATEMENT ISSUED

(British Official Wireless.)

(Eeceivea Ist February, 11 a.m.)

KUGBY, 30th January. in the situation at Shanghai are being watched here withgrave concern. Anxiety was increased when late last night a further breach of armistice was recorded and a renewal of fighting was feared. The Prime Minister and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Sir John Simon, were kept fully informed, and this morning an important conference was held. CABINET COMMUNIQUE. At its conclusion the following communique was issued: "A meeting was held this morning at No. 10 Downing street, at which the following were present: The Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Foreign Secretary, the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Field-Marshal Sir George Milne, and Sir Robert Vansittart. "The situation nt Shanghai was discussed, and the military and naval position was considered. In addition to the three battalions already at Shanghai, namely, the Scots Fusiliers, the Lincolns, and the Wiltshires, it was decided to dispatch a warship from Hong Kong carrying a battalion of infantry and a battery of artillery in response to a request from BrigadierGeneral Fleming for reinforcements. "The naval force at Shanghai, con-' sisting at present of H.M.S. Cornwall

and H.M.S. Sandwich, together with two gunboats, will shortly be reinforced by the arrival of H.M.S. Kent from Batavia. H.M.S. Suffolk from Hong Kong was due to arrive to-day. PROPOSAL ON SPOT. At a meeting held to-day at Shanghai, which was presided over by the British Consul-General, Mr. Brenan, and at which the American Consul-General was also present, together with Japanese and Chinese commanders, it was proposed to establish a neutral zone between the Chinese and Japanese troops, to be occupied by the troops of the neutral Powers, which have forces in the International Settlement. The British Consul-General has now been informed that necessary arrangements should be made for British troops to cooperate if a neutral zone can be established, and the United States Government is being asked to take similar action. The British Government is also urging the Japanese and Chinese Governments to accept the scheme for a neutral zone and to issue immediate instructions to' their troops accordingly. INTIMATION TO TOKIO. The British Ambassador in Tokio had meanwhile called the attention of the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs to the danger to which the lives and interests of British, subjects were exposed by the recent Japanese actions in Shanghai, and to protest against the use of the International Settlement as a base for attack. He also requested that the Japanese Government should use every endeavour to restore normal conditions at the earliest possible moment. "The Japanese Minister gave his assurance that he fully appreciated the anxiety of the British Government f,hat everything possible should be done not to endanger British lives and property, and that the International Settlement would not be used as a base for attack. It is understood from Press messages that the American Government have taken similar action at Tokio."