FAR EASTERN POLICY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 194, 18 July 1939, Page 7

FAR EASTERN POLICY

NO SUGGESTION OF CHANGE BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE STATED (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received July 18, 9.48 a.in. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July IT. As a result of Saturday’s meeting between Sir Robert Craigie (British Ambassador to Japan) and Mr Arita (Japanese Foreign Minister), as the first in the series of negotiations for a solution of the Tientsin position, there was great interest in the House of Commons to-day. The Premier (Mr Chamberlain), replying to questions, said: “As stated in an official announcement made in Tokio, Mr Arita and Sir Robert Craigie met on July 15 at the former’s official residence, and held a friendly discussion on the general questions forming the background to the situation which has arisen in Tientsin. “The interview was adjourned to give time for a further consideration of the issue’s raised,” the Premier continued. “The date for the official opening of negotiations in Tokio on the questions arising out of the situation in Tientsin has not yet been fixed. There have been many statements in the Press, both in Japan and Britain, that Japan will require a fundamental reversal of the Ear Eastern policy of Britain as one condition of opening negotitions.

“I should like to make it clear that this country would not and could not so act in regard to its foreign policy at the demand of another Power; nor has Britain received any such demand from Japan,” Mr Chamberlain declared. “In Sir Robert Craigie’s opinion the Japanese official attitude would more correctly be described as a desire that Britain should endeavour to regard the Sino-Japanese hostilities with more understanding of Japan’s difficulties, and of the Japanese side of the case.

“Britain shares her Ambassador’s view that to attribute to Japan intentions which may be found to have ho basis in fact would only be calculated to prejudice the success of the forthcoming negotiations,” the Premier declared.