Anglo-Jap. Deadlock Continues

Northern Advocate, 22 July 1939, Page 7

Anglo-Jap. Deadlock Continues

LONDON, July 20

In spite of official reserve and the efforts of the Japanese evening papers to gloss over the British firmness, nothing so far contradicts the statement of the Tokio representative of the British Associated Press yesterday that the British Ambassador to Japan, Sir Robert Craigie, and the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Hachiro Arita, reached a complete deadlock in the preliminary discussions regarding the Tientsin blockade. On the contrary, the Tokio morning newspapers today go a step further, declaring that the differences over Tientsin were more arid more evident as yesterday’s talks dragged out. The divergences are described as ( “considerable.” Sir Robert Craigie is reported to have frankly accepted certain of Mr. Arita’s points, and to have strongly opposed 'others, particularly those affecting British prestige. The Crucial Conference The Tokio newspapers attach the utmost importance to tomorrow’s meeting. The opening of the subsequent, formal negotiations regarding the Tientsin issues is said to depend upon Britain’s acceptance of certain immutable Japanese demands. The British United Press correspondent in Tokio says the principal conflict yesterday was over Mr. Arita’s request that Britain should admit that her Far Eastern policy hitherto had been pro-Ghinese, and that therefore she should pledge herself to co-operate with Japan in preserving peace and order.

The same correspondent, also says it is understood the discussions centred upon Japan’s request that Britain should recognise partial belligerent rights without an actual Japanese declaration of Iwar on China.