Thousand British Troops Standing By

Northern Advocate, 19 June 1939, Page 5

Thousand British Troops Standing By

LONDON, June 18

The Japanese Domei News Agency says 1000 British troops, 'as well as volunteers, are standing by in the British concession of Tientsin,;prepared for an emergency, and the barricades have been strengthened. The blockade has reduced the entry of vegetables, fish and rice by ninetenths..

The commander of the Japanese forces at Tientsin has rejected a British request for an interview, because it would be useless in the present situation, which has developed into a full protest against Britain’s’ proChinese policy.

The Japanese icommlander added that economic retaliation would be impossible without the participation of the Pnited States.

British Reprisals Plan.

The British Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, has returned to London from Yorkshire after receipt of the latest information by telephone from the Foreign Office in relation to China and Japan. It is understood the British reprisals plan is ready. According to the Domei Hews Agency, official circles in Tokio declare that should Britain take the retaliatory steps indicated in yesterday’s British statement, Japan will be constrained to take the necessary measures to meet the situation.

“What Japan wants,” it was stated, “is a radical improvement of such British policy as was manifested in the non-surrender of the four criminals.” The British statement is described as having been intended to v/hitewash a serious blunder as regards the assassins. It is understood that the French Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet, indicated to the British Ambassador to Paris, Sir Eric Phipps, and the American Charge d’Affaires, Mr E. C. Wilson, that France would co-operate fully in any action which Britain and America might deem necessary in Tientsin.

Germany’s Satisfaction

The Berlin press shows undisguised satisfaction at Britain’s difficulties in Tientsin. Field-Marshal Goering’s “National Zeitung” gloats that “the encirclers are encircled.” The official German News Agency claims that accurate knowledge of the Far East situation is the key point of the British and French negotiations with Moscow.

Rumours are circulating in Tokio that there is a possibility of either French or American arbitration to settle the deadlock. The American Consul at Tientsin, Mr J. K. Caldwell, is especially mentioned in this connection.

British Consular officers deny that the Japanese have presented formal conditions for the lifting of the blockade.

' A communique from Athens states that talks between General Metaxas, Prime Minister of Greece, and Dr Gafencu, Rumanian Foreign Secretary, have shown complete agreement on all problems existing between the two cquntrxes.