IN THE FAR EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1940, Page 5

IN THE FAR EAST

BURMA TRAFFIC

DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE.

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

TOKYO, July 15. } Sir R. Craigie (British Ambassador) and Mr Arita (Foreign Minister), 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 to'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 he made soon.

The results will be cabled, to London. Whereafter further conferences will be held.

NEW JAP MOVE.

•'SHANGHAI, July 14

The Japanese Navy has notified the foreign Consulates that, from midnight on Monday, the Japanese will begin military operations in the Ningpo and the WehchoAV sectors.

The Japanese reserve all rights to detain ~ any vessels, and . they will not assume atiy responsibility for damage to foreign property. This is interpreted as being another effort to cAt off the supplies for Chungking.

CHINESE REPORTS. LONDON, July 15. Tho 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 have occupied points southAvard of Kaifeng, and captured tAventy thousand “puppet” troops Avith Japanese equipment.

BRITISH POLICY CRITICISED.

CHUNGKING, July 15

The official organ of the Chungking Government, tho “Central D'aily News}” strongly criticised Britain’s policy of appeasement, regarding Burma. It gave a Avarning, that if Britain accepted the Japanese demands, Japan would shortly invade Burma and India also. It emphasised that Japan Avas merely bluffing. It urged Mr Churchill to avoid falling into the trap. It pointed out that there Avas a necessity for Britain up holding her prestige.

READY TO EVACUATE.

TOKIO, July 15,

The newspaper “Asahi’s” special correspondenF from Amoy, has reported that British residents of Kulangsu, the International Settlement of Amoy., have completed preparation to evac.uate to Manila in the event of the "worst’’ Anglo-Japanese relations coming about.

JAPANESE AND U.S.A. MARINES.

SHANGHAI, July 15

Three United States marines and several Japanese civilians engaged in a fight in which beer bottles were thrown at a Japanese-owned Oriental cafe last night.

An official of the Japanese Embassy said that intoxication on both sides was responsible, and that jthe case probably was not a serious one.

REVIEW BY EMPEROR.

TOKYO, July 15

Tt is announced that the Emperor of Japan, aboard the battleship "Nagato,” will review the combined Japanese .Fleet off Yokosuka on Thursday.

POSITION IN INDO-CHINA.

VICHY, July 15

It is officially announced here that France has begun direct negotiations with Japan regarding shipments of material to the Chinese Government across Indo-China. :

Japan has not occupied ally part of Indo-China.

France is now following her own Far East policy, which is an independent one, but is closely parallel to the policies of Britain and America.

BRITISH STATEMENT.

(Received this day at 10.10 a.m.). LONDON, July 15.

It is learned in London that on the question of a Sino-Japanese peace, any revision of the British policy in relation to Japan will not be raised in 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 lie achieved with a view to a statement of wider issues in the Far East. Mr Jones’s statement from Singapore (cabled on July 14th.) was made without the knowledge of the Foreign Office. The policy of the British Government regarding the Far East is contained in utterances from London from time to time.