Britain’s Relations With China and Japan

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 115, 16 May 1941, Page 7

Britain’s Relations With China and Japan

Received Thursday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, May 14. Answering a Commons questions regarding the relations between the British Government and the National Government of China at Chungking tha Foreign Under-Secretary said: “The relations between the two Government* remain, I am happy to say, on terms of the closest cordiality and co-operation. Engaged as we arc in a life and death struggle against aggression in Europe and the Middle East, the efforts of China to resist foreign domination and preserve her independence have a natural appeal to the people of this country. “The British Government has don# what it could in the past and will continue to do what it can in the future to help China maintain her independence.” Answering a Commons question regarding Japanese discrimination against British interests in China, Mr. Anthony Eden, after recalling the unsatisfactory outcome of the representations addressed to Japan, added that he had instructed Sir Robert Craigie to reply to tho Japanese complaints of economic restrictions in British territories by saying that while our main object is to conserve supplies for our war effort and prevent these supplie# from reaching our enemies, we were naturally influenced in deciding our economic policy by Japan’s atitude toward our interests in China.