AGAINST BRITAIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 89, 14 March 1941, Page 5

AGAINST BRITAIN

PROPAGANDA IN PEKING. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 12. There has recently been some revelation of an agitation by an anti-British committee in Peking and the British Government is closely watching the movement, the Parliamentary Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs (Air R. A. Butler) said in answer to a House of Commons question. There was no proof, Mr Butler added, that the movement received the direct support of the Japanese authorities, but antiBritish speeches had been made over the Peking central broadcasting stat ion, which was Japanese-controlled. The programme of the committee includes such activities as warning Chinese landlords to give notice to British tenants, investigating British goods and trade, bringing pressure to bear on those in British employment to leave, and intensification of antiBritish propaganda generally. The shipping situation in Canton, it was stated in reply to another question, is governed by an agreement with the Japanese which permits weekly visits by British ships, subject to certain conditions. Various offers for the reopening of the river by stages have been made by the Japanese, but conditions attached have rendered them valueless to the British interests concerned. Negotiations have been in progress some time but without result, and representations have been made to the Japanese Government. THAI MEDIATION. NEW TREATY PROPOSED. TOKIO, March 12. The Miyako Shimban said that the Thailand-French mediation delegates would remain in Tokio in order to draft a new treaty. Japan is also inviting home jtrovernment, specialists to negotiate under the auspices of the Foreign Office. The present treaty states: “In signing the terms of mediation letters have been exchanged between Japan and France and between Japan and Thailand, in which Japan guarantees the definitive nature of the settlement, and agreements will subsequently be made respecting the maintenance of peace in Greater East Asia, also the establishment and promotion of especially closer relations between Japan and Thailand and also between Japan and Indo-Cliina. Japanese Press circles in Shanghai state that a secret mutual assistance pact was concluded at Moscow on March 8, whereby Russia agreed to assist the Chinese Communists to establish a Chinese soviet area.