NEW ORDER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23384, 28 June 1939, Page 13

NEW ORDER

STRIPPING TO CEASE JAPANESE GENERAL OFFER TO DISROBE MADE DIFFERING IDEAS OF MODESTY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received Juno 27, 11.35 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 27 The Japanese sentries at the Tientsin barriers have been ordered to stop stripping Britons. Lieuten-ant-General Homma, commander of the Tientsin garrison, told journalists that reports of indignities had not been substantiated. He had issued new orders that stripping was not necessary to ensure a thorough examination. Lieutenant-General Homma denied that the' military authorities at Tientsin had acted independently, and said the Central Government in Tokio had ordered the present restrictions, including the blockade of the British and French concessions. The speaker maintained that Tientsin had not been blockaded, but was merely subject to traffic regulations to curb anti-Japanese elements. It was not intended to hold up food, but inspections were necessarily delayed. The term "blockade" was not suitable for the present situation, since the river remained open and could not be closed without authority from Tokio, which at present was not forthcoining. "We have no concrete terms for a local settlement of the Tientsin trouble beyond insisting that the British must understand our East Asia policy, - ' said the general. "It should also be realised that public undressing at barricades is not as repellent to Japanese as to Occidentals. Barricade sentries whom I questioned deny stripping British women." Lieutenant-General Homma startled the journalists by offering to disrobe to prove that the soldiery did not regard stripping as an indignity. He pointed out that the sentries were simple peasants and their ideas of modesty differed from those of foreigners. The Japanese did not hesitate to disrobe in public, and often both sexes bathed ill the nude.

MUST BE STOPPED JAPANESE ACTIONS INDIGNITIES TO BRITONS MR. CHAMBERLAIN FIRM British Wireless LONDON, .Tune 20 In answer to a question about the situation at Tientsin in the House of Commons to-day the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, intimated that Sir Robert Craigie, British Ambassador to Tokio, was discussing it in all its aspects with Mr. Arita, Japanese Foreign Minister. He added that he had some reason to hope that this discussion might lead to a settlement of the affair. Mr. Chamberlain explained that, with this in view, he did not want to say anything which would prejudice a satisfactory issue to the conversations. The same restraint was evident in his replies to supplementary questions. At the same time the Prime Minister insisted that the indignities inflicted on British nationals, a number of further instances of which were mentioned in his statement, must cease. The Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, had spoken in the strongest terms on this point to the Japanese Ambassador, and similar representations had been made by Sir Robert Craigie in Tokio. Mr. Chamberlain confirmed the report that the Japanese Government had not expressly formulated wider demands arising out of the Tientsin incidents, and told Mr. Anthony Eden that the hopes he entertained for the successful outcome of the conversations now going on in Tokio were derived from the conversations themselves.

While agreeing that past experience showed that assurances given in Tokio were not always honoured on the spot, the Prime Minister said he trusted the Japanese Government would be able to restrain its subordinates at Tientsin. The Trime Minister's original answer recounted 110 changes in the general situation at Tientsin. Arrivals of perishable foodstuffs, he said, continued to be spasmodic. Tho local municipal and military authorities had the food supply question under constant review and had authority to take such measures as appeared to be appropriate.

REPORTED PROTEST BRITAIN AND DOMINION' ILL-TREATMENT OF AGENT (Received Juno 27, 0/10 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 27 The Daily Fx press says the British and New Zealand Governments have sent a joint protest to Japan over the ill-treatment of Mr. C. G. Davis, honorary corresponding agent for the New Zealand Government at Tientsin. The Daily Express cabled to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr. Savage, asking if New Zealand would act to vindicate Mr. Davis. the cablegram added: "Would be grateful for message expressing New Zealand s 10sentineiit and her determination to upbold her citizens' rights." The Evening Standard, commenting 011 the Japanese attacks 011 Mr. Davis, and the deaths of the two Canadian missionaries, says the issue between Britain and Japan is now a question for the whole Empire, states the Independent Cable Service. The New Zealand Government, backed by the Australian Government, will rightly be jealous to uphold its prestige in the Far East. Any British action, therefore, must be agreed upon with the Dominions. It is understood that a special protest is being made to Tokio against the treatment of Mr. Davis, in view of his status.