BRITISH DEMANDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 16, 16 December 1937, Page 10

BRITISH DEMANDS

APOLOGY OF JAPAN. ATTACKS ON GUNBOATS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received December 16, 10.55 a.m. RUGBY, Dec. 15. The British Note to Japan, after outlining in detail the incidents connected with the attacks on the British gunboats and shipping on the Yangbse, adds that His Majesty’s Government has now been glad to receive, the Note of December 14 offering the profound apology of the Imperial Japanese Government for the attacks on His Majesty’s ships, stating that measures were immediately taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents, and adding that it would deal suitably with those responsible and pay the necessary compensation. His Majesty’s Government observes that the Note makes mention of the attacks on British merchant vessels and says:— “I am instructed to request that an assurance may be given that all that is said in that Note applies equally to these attacks. His Majesty’s Government takes particular note of the statement that those responsible will be suitably dealt with. The adequate punishment of those responsible for the particular nttacks under discussion seems, indeed, to His Majesty’s Government to be the only method by which further outrages can be prevented. PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. “His Majesty’s Government cannot but recall previous incidents in which the Japanesce Government has expressed regret for attacks made on British nationals and property, and has given assurances that adequate steps had been taken to prevent any repetition. It calls to 'mind the attack made on the British Ambassador in China, while travelling by road from Nanking to Shanghai, the subsequent attack on motor-cars conveying British officials on a similar journey, and attacks on British civilians and military posts on the defence perimeter at Shanghai, as well as other incidents, and the reepated assurances of the Japanese Government of its intention fully to respect the interests of third Powers in the present conflict with China. It is clear that the steps hitherto taken by the Japanese Government to prevent‘ Such attacks have so far failed in that purpose, and His Majesty’s Government must now seek to be informed that measures of a character which will pi l y a definite stop to the incidents of which it complains have actually been taken.”