ANTI-BRITISH COMMITTEE

Evening Star, Issue 23834, 14 March 1941, Page 8

ANTI-BRITISH COMMITTEE

OPERATING IN PEKING SPEECHES OVER THE AIR (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 13. The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler), in answer to a question in the House of Commons, said: “ There has recently been some revelation of agitation by an anti-British committee in Peking, and the British Government is closely watching the movement.” There was no proof, Mr Butler added, that the movement had received the direct support of the Japauese authorities, but anti-British speeches had been made over the Peking central broadcasting station, which the Japanese controlled. The programme of the committee included such activities as warning Chinese landlords to give notice to their British tenants, the investigating of British goods and trade, the bringing of pressure to bear on those in British employment to leave, and the intensification of anti-British propaganda generally. CONDITIONS AT CANTON. The shipping situation at Canton, it was also stated in the House of Commons, is governed by an agreement with the Japanese which permits weekly visits by British ships, subject to certain conditions. Various offers for the reopening of the river by stages have been made by the Japanese, but the conditions attached have rendered them valueless to the British interests concerned. Negotiations have been in progress for some time, but without result, and representations have been made to the Japanese Government.