BRITAIN AND JAPAN

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 July 1940, Page 7

BRITAIN AND JAPAN

NO REVISION IN POLICY

SUPPLIES COMPROMISE

[by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

(Recd. July 16, 9 a.m.)) LONDON, July 15. It is learned in London that the question of a Sino-Japanese peace, or any revision of British policy in relation to Japan, was not raised in the Tokio discussions. The Government is conducting negotiations through Sir R. Craigie and Mr. Arita touching the restriction of traffic on the Burma Road as a temporary measure, possibly for three months, in which it may be hoped that progress can be achieved with a view to a statement of wider issues in the Far East. Mr. Jones’s statement from Singapore was made without knowledge of the Foreign Office.. The policy of the British Government regarding the Far East is contained in the utterances in London from time to time.

TOKIO TALKS TOKIO, July 15. Sir R. Craigie and Mr. Arita had a two-hour discussion, in which they tentatively framed sections for the proposed agreement regarding the Burma traffic. It is understood that Britain is willing do agree, to a temporary suspension. Japan is pressing for other concessions. Mr. Gaimusho, in a statement, said: “Progress has been made to-day.” A formal announcement is expected to be made soon. The results will be cabled to London. Whereafter further conferences will be held.

CHINESE APPEAL LONDON, July 15. A Chungking message says that the official “Central Daily News” strongly criticised Britain’s appeasement regarding Burma, and gave a warning that if Britain accepted the Japanese demands, Japan would shortly invade Burma and India. It emphasised that Japan was merely bluffing and urged Mr. Churchill to avoid falling into a trap. It pointed out the necessity for Britain to uphold her prestige. - x A Shanghai report says that the Japanese Navy has notified foreign Consulates that from midnight to-day the Japanese will begin military operations in the Ningpo and Wenchow sectors, in the Chekiang Province. They reserve all rights to detain any vessels and will not assume lesponsibilitv for damage to foreign property. This is interpreted as another effort to cut off supplies for the Chungking Government. A special correspondent from Amoy of the’ Tokio newspaper “Asahi,” reported that the British residents of the Kulangsu International Settlement had completed preparations to evacuate to Manila in the event of the “worst” British-Japanese relations. From Vichy it was officially announced that France had begun direct negotiations with Japan regarding shipments of material to the Chinese Government across Indo-China. Japan had not occupied any part of IndoChina, and France was following her own Far East policy, which was independent of, but closely parallel to, those of Britain and America.

CHINESE WARNING. (Received July 16, 10.35 a.m.) CHUNGKING, July 15. The Foreign Office spokesman declared that China would act appiopriately if Britain closed the Burma Road. If Britain were betraying China, it would serve England, France and the United States right if China made peace, freeing Japan fox military action in south-eastern Asia. U.S.A. POLICY WASHINGTON, July 15. Mr. Hull said that the United States continues to pursue a separate independent peace in the Far East. CAFE BRAWL-

SHANGHAI, July 15. Three United • States marines and several Japanese civilians engaged m a fight, in which beer bottles were thrown, in a Japanese-owned cafe, last night. An official at the Japanese Embassy said intoxication on both sides was responsible. The case would probably not be regarded as serious.

REVIEW' OF FLEET.

TOKIO, July 15

It is announced that the Emperor, on board the battleship Nagato, will review the combined fleet off Yokosuka on July 18.

CHINESE SUCCESSES CLAIMED

LONDON, July 15.

The Chinese Embassy at London claims that there were nearly nine thousand Japanese casualties in heavy fighting in the Ichang sector, between July 6 and July 9. It states that Chinese forces are vigorously attacking them. It adds that, in Eastern Honai, the Chinese forces have occupied points southward of Kaifeng, and captured twenty thousand “puppet” troops with Japanese equipment.

PHILIPPINES’ PRECAUTIONS

(Recd. July 16, 9.40 a.m.) MANILA, July 15. President Quezbn has sent a message to the National Assembly, seeking sweeping special powers, including authority to control food resources, require citizens to render personal civil, service, prevent strikes and unwholesome social agitation, and commandeer ships.

CABLES SERVICE. “By special arrangement, Reuter’s world service in addition to other special sources of information is used in the compilation of the overseas intelligence published in this issue, and all rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved,’,’. ' “Such of the cable news in tins issue as is so headed has appeared in “The Times,” and is sent to the "Greymouth Evening Star,” by snecial permission. It should be understood that opinions are not those of "The Times” unless expressly stated to be so."