Britain’s Attitude Towards Japanese Insults And Threats

Northern Advocate, 5 July 1939, Page 8

Britain’s Attitude Towards Japanese Insults And Threats

; ' V (Received 3 p.m.) RUGBY, July 3. QUESTIONED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS REGARDING INSULTS SUSTAINED BY BRITISH NATIONALS AT TIENTSIN, THE FOREIGN UNDER-SECRETARY, MR R. A. BUTLER, REPLIED; “UNTIL THIS MORNING THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS FOR SOME DAYS OF BRITISH SUBJECTS BEING SUBJECTED TO INDIGNITIES.

• “Lord Halifax has not received any official confirmation of the incident reported in today’s press, involving a young British subject.

“The British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, has been instructed to inform Japan that any deliberate ill-treatment of Britsh subjects must imperil the success of negotiations in Tokio.”

■ Tientsin Blockade. The British Government had no official confirmation that the Tientsin blockade was being intensified. Asked if Japan had submitted any evidence showing the guilt of the four Chinese suspects at Tientsin, Mr Butler replied: “I am not prepared to odd anything to what has already been said on this point in view of the fact that conversations in Tokio are about to start.” The Wanted Men, Mr Arthur Greenwood, deputy Labour leader, asked for an assurance that these men would be handed over.

Mr Butler replied that there was no intention of handing the men over pending negotiations. He also stated that arrangements were being made for the evacuation of British subjects who wished to leave Foochow. He understood that the foreign community proposed to remain at Wenchow, where there were at present 11 British subjects. Further proposals for the settlement of the Kulangsu situation had recently been made to the Kulangsu Municipal Council by the Japanese, and these were under consideration.