“British Ambassador Begs for Mercy”

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 145, 22 June 1939, Page 7

“British Ambassador Begs for Mercy”

JAPANESE NEWSPAPER BOAST ALL DEMANDS REJECTED Received Wednesday, Midnight. LONDON, June 21. A Tokio message says “British Ambassador Begs for Mercy” is the headline under which the Yomiuri Shimbun reports Sir Robert Craigie’s visit yesterday to Mr. Arita at which it is understood the Ambassador requested a moderation of tho drastic searches of British subjects at tho Japanese barriers at Tientsin, also a relaxation of the food restrictions. Mr. Arita, according to the newspaper, rejected all Sir Robert Craigie’s demands, declaring that the present measures were absolutely necessary and warning him that Britain must revise her attitude toward Japan. The Domei News Agency states that a conference of the highest military and diplomatic officials at Tientsin decided to continue the pressure on Britain until she ends her support for Marshal Chiang Kai-shek. The Foreign Office spokesman denied that British subjects at Tientsin were stripped or subjected to personal indignities. Sir Robert Craigie was informed that ’there was no discrimination between one nationality and another. The army was only carrying out duties imposed by military necessity and was not even hampering the arrival of food supplies. Reports from Tientsin, however, indicate further efforts to cut off supplies of vegetables trickling into the Concession.

A Shanghai message states that two British ships left for Tientsin to-day with large cargoes of foodstuffs, including wheat, flour, vegetables and fruit.