TOKIO NEGOTIATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 23350, 21 August 1939, Page 9

TOKIO NEGOTIATIONS

FUTURE STILL OBSCURE JAPAN SAYS BRITAIN MUST MOVE NEXT GENERAL ITAGAKI SUMMONS ARMY LEADERS Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, August 19. The 1 Daily Mail’s ’ Hongkong correspondent says the Japanese, for the first time, moved to establish a puppet regime iu South China by swearing in at Swatow a Federated Committee, which telegraphed to Chungking breaking off relations with Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s Government and declaring autonomy in Eastern Kwangtung, bordering Hongkong. The British gunboats Moth and Cicala are protecting Kowloon, which the Japanese occupation of Shatautok threatens. They have been reinforced by a motor torpedo boat. The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that the future of the negotiations is obscure. Official opinion is that the next move must come from Britain, It is declared that if Britain convened the parties to the Nine-Power Treaty Japan would immediately withdraw. The newspapers emphasise that the policy in China is not being altered, no matter what Britain does, Baron Hiranuma and Mr Arita conferred at length on the latest developments. General Itagaki has summoned the army leaders. SUSPENSION OF TALKS CONSULTATION ON CURRENCY. LONDON, August 20. At a conference Sir Robert Craigie and Mr Kato mutually agreed to suspend the Tientsin talks, Britain in the meantime consulting other Powers on the currency questions. HANDLING OF ECONOMIC QUESTIONS AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR BRITAIN. WASHINGTON, August 18. The Acting Secretary of State (Mr Sumner Welles) indicated that Britain has United States support in rejecting the Japanese demands that Chinese economic questions be included in the Tokio talks.

LAND BLOCKADE OF HONGKONG JAPAN’S INTENTION. 1 CANTON, August 19. The Military Spokesman announced Japan’s intention of making a land blockade of Hongkong in order to prevent supplies from reaching Marshal Chiang Kai-shek. BY LAND AND SEA CANTON, August 20. (Received August 21, at 10.15 a.m.) The Japanese Spokesman said tho Hongkong blockade will be both by land and sea, and has been designed completely to cut off Chinese trade in arms between Hongkong and Kwantung. FLOODS IN TIENTSIN WHOLE COUNTRYSIDE INUNDATED. TIENTSIN, August 20. Protective walls and sandbags are being hurriedly built in the Concession as the result of a rapid rise in the flood waters. The Japanese electrified barricades are almost submerged, and the Japanese military road is only Bin above water. Chinese refugees are pouring into tho concessions. A later message states that the British municipality proclaimed l a state of flood emergency from August 21. Flooding of the entire British and French Concessions is inevitable. The palatial foreign Country Club racecourse is 4ft under water, and the whole countryside is a vast expanse of water. Japanese sentries are relaxing tho blockade, and Russian dairymen are permitted to drive in cattle. Eight trucks of vegetables entered without search. BRITISH PATROL FIRED ON RETALIATION ORDERED BY SERGEANT. SHANGHAI, August 20. (Received August 21, at 10 a.m.) A squad of Japanese-controlled Chinese police fired on a British patrol commanded by Sergeant Kinloch, who was slightly wounded. He ordered the fire to be returned, and one Chinese was killed and three were wounded'.