CURRENCY ISSUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 29, 3 August 1939, Page 9

CURRENCY ISSUE

QUESTION IN COMMONS

(British Official Wireless.) (ReceiA>-ed August 3, 11.40 a.m.)

RUGBY, August 2.

The Foreign Under-Secretary, Mr. R. A. Butler, was asked in the House of Commons if support of the Chinese currency had come under discussion in the Tokio conversations. He replied: "The coiwersations at present proceeding in Tokio are confined to local issues at Tientsin."

Intervening in a reply to supplementary questions, which included a direct appeal to him to give a pledge that the Government would not consent to delegalisation of the Chinese currency, the Prime Minister recalled his full statement on the Far East in last Monday's debate and declined to go beyond that.

The President of the Board of Trade,

Mr Oliver Stanley, recalled in the House that, as he had stated on March 6 and repeated on July 14, a proposal to give financial assistance for the benefit of British manufacturers in respect of exports to China had been under consideration for some time. Certain technical and legal questions were still under consideration.

This statement followed the assurance of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the Anglo-Japanese formula did not imply any change in Britain's views as to the desirability of maintaining the stability of the Chinese currency in tlie interests of Britain and other. countries Avhich have important financial trade interests in China.

"The Times" says that these statements, although containing nothing neAv, show again Britain's..determination not to change her policy toAvards China while seeking with no lack of good Avill to establish a Avorking arrangement Avith the Japanese soldiers in North China. Information, "The Times" adds, is being exchanged on the subject Avith several countries, including America, France, and the British Dominions. When these exchanges are complete it may be anticipated that further instructions Avill be sent to Sir Robert Craigie for his guidance in the Tokio negotiations. _,