Tokio’s “It-Was-An-Error? Reply To Britain

Northern Advocate, 29 December 1937, Page 5

Tokio’s “It-Was-An-Error? Reply To Britain

(Received 10 a.m.) , LONDON. December 28. The Tokio correspondent of “The Times” says the Japanese reply to the British Note will claim that wKeH the Japanese battery fired on the British gunboat Ladybird on > the Yangtse the > visibility was very. poor. The Japanese troops had moved up rapidly' from Shanghai, and, iacbording to the Japanese case,' knew nothing of the river or its shipping. Japanese unit commanders had as-. ' sumed that all foreign ships had-left the battle zone. It will be suggested, says the correspondent, that the circumstances prove that the attacks oh ~ British ships were errors committed in the heat of the battle. It will be frankly admitted that

mistakes were .made, Cabinet Approves Note.,

The Japanese Cabinet has approved the reply to Britain’s Note regarding the attack on H.M.S. Ladybird..

The Foreign Secretary, Mr Koki ,Hirota, then reported to* the Emperor, and later handed the Note to Sir Robert Craigie, British Ambassador. / • It is believed the .Note complies ‘ with the requests; for an apology, indemnities and guarantees against non-recurrence.

The Foreign ,Office announced that the contents of the Note wbuld not be released at present, and so far no date has been given.

Most informed circles believe, the reply is similar to that to America on the Panay incident, although the delay in publication has caused some circles to surmise, that it will contain matter hitherto unrevealed, says the United Press.