BRITAIN & JAPAN

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1936, Page 5

BRITAIN & JAPAN

TENSION CAUSED MILITARY COURT RECONVENED. (United Press Association — By I2IaiSE( Telegraph—Copyright; (ißeceiyed this day at 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, June H>. The “Sun Herald” says : As the result of the delicate Anglo-Japanese situation developing as the outcome of the shooting of a Japanese soldier, Britain’s military court is being convened again. The Japanese declared they were dissatisfied with the British inquiry, which ■did not tally with their inquiry. The secretary of the Japanese embassy at Peking communicated to Britain copies of Japanese testimonies taken from bar-tenders and tea house waitresses, all of whom are of Japanese and Korean nationality. The British court will examine these witnesses. The position is further complicated by Major General Matsumuro, Japanese poltical agent for North China, declaring : “If Britain persists in “insincerity” the Japanese might be compelled to consider special measures for British regard. Such a statement from a responsible authority is deplorable. The Japanese Government has not associated itself with this statement. Nevertheless it has not attempted to repudiate it, and is likewise silent regarding the statement from the more extreme elements threatening direct action. A London cable dated June 5 says: The diplomatic correspondent of tho Times states that the officer commanding the British troops at Peking has completed a formal inquiry into the alleged murder of a Japanese officer: named Sasaki. The evidence was taken on oath and established without question that British soldiers were not in the vicinity at the time of the occurrence. This confirms the preliminary inquiry. An inquest was impossible as Sasaki’s body had been promptly burned.