More Hopeful Tone

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 171, 22 July 1939, Page 5

More Hopeful Tone

Anglo-Japanese Talks

SOME PROGRESS REPORTED MADE United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyrigli t. Received Saturday, 1.30 a.m. TOKIO, July 21. Some progress towards an agreement was made in a talk lasting an hour and 40 minutes between the British Ambassador in Tokio, Sir Robert Craigie, and the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Arita, according to a communique issued subsequently. They are meeting again to-morrow. The Domei News Agency unconfirmedly reports that an agreement was reached on the general questions forming the background of the Tientsin issues, hut in contrast to the more hopeful tone of the communique the Osaka Mainichi declares that the emergency in China has reached a stage at which Japan will have to light not only China hut also Britain and Russia. The Kokutein, which is the organ

of the Army anti-British movement, is strongly urging the Government immediately to implement an ItaloJapanese anti-British military alliance.

Commenting on Mr. Chamberlain’s Commons statement, the Foreign Office spokesman said Japan had not the slightest intention of forcing Britain to change her policy in the Far East, but Britain should realise the facts and voluntarily change her attitude. After hearing Mr. Arita's report of the talk with Sir Robert Craigie, the Premier, Baron Hiranua, summoned a special Cabinet meeting for to-morrow and further summoned a special meeting of the Diet, probably for July 27, to hear an explanation of the AngloJapanese negotiations.