THE TOKIO TALKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23884, 11 August 1939, Page 9

THE TOKIO TALKS

DEMAND BY JAPANESE EARLY RESUMPTION OTHERWISE WILL WITHDRAW (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph-Copyright) LONDON, Aug. 10. (Received Aug. 11, at 1.30 a.m.) The Tokio correspondent of the British United Press says General Kato told Sir Robert Craigie, the British Ambassador, that the army representatives would return to Tientsin early next week unless the negotiations were resumed. He urgently requested the British to accelerate the deliberations. The Foreign Office denied there was an .ultimatum but there is no doubt that pressure-was applied. The United States and French Charge d’Affaires advised the Foreign Office that their Governments had common interest with Britain in the financial issues concerning Tientsin and requested recognition of it. According to the Asahi Shin-.oun the request was rejected as unreasonable., The Foreign Office declared that it would deal with Britain alone. The British and French Consulates at Chungking were seriously damaged during a bombing raid. Four Chinese at the British Consulate were killed. BRITISH WARSHIPS POSSIBLE DESPATCH TO EAST TOKIO, Aug. 9. The Navy Spokesman, Rear-ad-miral Kanazawa, making reference to a report that Britain was inquiring during the crisis in the Anglo-Japanese negotiations whether America would send a strong squadron to join the reinforced British and Australian Squadron' at Singapore, said he doubted such an extraordinary dislocation of the international line-up, but anyhow, Japan was not perturbed, and would not in tbs least change her policy. The Spokesman added that Mr Chamberlain’s threat that a fleet would go to Asia amounted to bombast for home consumption. “The fact that it was uttered reveals that the British are jittery,” he said. CONFISCATION OF MINES BRITAIN LODGES PROTEST LONDON, Aug. 9. The Foreign Office has instructed Sir Robert Craigie strongly to protest against the Japanese attempted confiscation of the Chiaotso coal mines in the Honan province, and to remind the Japanese of their assurances to preserve order in occupied areas. A previous message stated:—The Honan Government is taking over the Chiaotso coal mines, owned by a Sino-British syndicate. THE CHINESE LEADER EXPELLED PREMIER’S ATTACK LONDON, Aug. 9. The Hongkong correspondent of The Times says:—The expelled Chinese Premier (Wang Ching-wei) is at present in Canton broadcasting attacks on Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, claiming that he can arrange an armistice in the Canton area immediately if the Chinese desire peace on the basis of anti-Comintern good neighbourliness. He seeks to establish a Kuomintang Government on the basis of a federal system of five autonomous units closely co-operat-ing with Japan, but since the plan involves continued Japanese military occupation, the prospects of winning reputable adherents are poor. TIENTSIN INCIDENTS BRITON REFUSES TO STRIP TIENTSIN, Aug. 9. A British architect, Mr McClure Anderson, refused to strip in front of his wife and another Englishwoman. After an argument the sentry allowed the party to enter the Concession. Japanese soldiers beat, kicked, and injured M. Denis Conings, a Belgian, at Peitaiho, a summer resort. The Japanese pushed him from behind. He protested, whereupon Japanese soldiers set on him. CHINESE DOLLAR EASES (Independent Cable Service) LONDON, Aug. 9. The Chinese dollar eased to 3 3-16 d.