TIENTSIN ISSUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23886, 14 August 1939, Page 9

TIENTSIN ISSUE

THE "WANTED" CHINESE WILL BE HANDED OVER BRITAIN'S DECISION HAD NO ALTERNATIVE (British Official tireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph Copyright) RUGBY, Aug. 11.

Before the House of Commons rose, Mr Chamberlain intimated that the Japanese had submitted evidence to support their charges against the four Chinese held by the British municipal police in Tientsin following the murder of the manager of the Federal Reserve Bank and the superintendent of Customs. This evidence was communicated confidentially during the AngloJapanese discussions in Tokio, and, as Mr Chamberlain stated, it was receiving careful examination.

Mr Chamberlain added that the men could not be handed over unless the evidence showed a prima facie case against them, but that if such evidence were forthcoming there would be no alternative but to hand them over to the Chinese district court. With the completion of this additional evidence, the conclusion was reached that it did in fact constitute a prima facie case against the four accused—two on a charge of murder and the other two on a charge of membership of an illegal organisation. Thus the British, authorities, as stated by Mr Chamberlain, are obliged to hand over the men in accordance with the regular procedure to the local Chinese court. The position of the British Municipal Council in continuing to hold Sau Chingwu, who was arrested in September on information supplied by the Chinese military authorities and who has been under detention by the British municipal police in Tientsin, is untenable, and he will be handed over to the de facto Chinese authorities for internment under reasonable safeguards by which the British Consul-general will be permitted to satisfy himself that the prisoner is being properly treated. Japan Informed Sir Robert Craigie has informed Japan of the conclusion reached by the legal authorities in Britain and notified them that the British municipal police in Tientsin are now prepared to execute the warrant of the local Chinese district court. Similar notification is being made to the Chinese Government. The case of the four accused has throughout constituted a separate question, which has been considered purely on its judicial merits and entirely apart from examination in the Tokio talks of other local issues. Nor has the delay in reaching a decision on this isolated question had any connection with the temporary suspension of these conversations. Their early resumption is now anticipated, as within the past 48 hours fresh detailed instructions have been sent to Sir Robert Craigie. THE TOKIO TALKS NO DATE FOR RESUMPTION. (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Aug. 11. Although fresh instructions have gone to Sir Robert Craigie in connection with the temporarily suspended conversations there on Tientsin, press telegrams from Tokio indicate that no date has yet been fixed for renewal of the talks. It is stated that this will be the subject of a conference to-morrow between Major Herbert, the British Consul in Tientsin, who went to Tokio to help in these negotiations, and General Tanaka. It is understood that the instructions sent by Britain for the delivery of protests to Japan with regard to air attacks on British ships in the Yangtse near Ichang and against the confiscatory demands of the puppet Government of Honan on all coal mines owned by a British company were carried out in Tokio to-day. BRITAIN BLAMED WAITING FOR RUSSIAN PACT LONDON. Aug. 11. A statement by the Japanese army headquarters in Tientsin accuses the British of deliberately hampering the progress of the Tokio talks until the Russian pact is concluded. The statement hints at further anti-British measures unless " tricky Britain " replies " yes " or " no " to the Japanese demands. Miss Margery Fry has instructed counsel to apply the Habeas Corpus Act in respect to the four surrendered Chinese in Tientsin. Miss Margery Fry has been a governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation since 1938, and is associated with many humanitarian organisations. PROTEST FROM CHINA NO CHANCE OF FAIR TRIAL LONDON, Aug. 12. (Received Aug. 13, at 9 p.m.) The Chinese Ambassador sent a Note to the Foreign Office urging reconsideration of the handing over of four Chinese. It has been stated that the demand for delivery of the prisoners was not made bv comnetent authority, the Chinese Government, as necessitated by the treaty of Tientsin, but by the Japanese Government and its puppets. The surrender of suspects is legally unjustified and also inconsistent with the traditions of British justice, because all chances of a fair trial are removed. It might also be interpreted as de facto recognition of an illegal regime involving farreaching consequences. HABEAS CORPUS APPLICATION JUDGE RESERVES DECISION SHANGHAI, Aug. 12. (Received Aug. 13, at 9 p.m.) Mr Grant Jones, assistant judge of his Majesty's Supreme Court in China, reserved his decision in an application for habeas corpus on behalf of the four Chinese in Tientsin. He questioned whether habeas corpus applied outside the British

realm and dominions, also the applicant's authority to apply on behalf of the prisoners. The Japanese confirm that thousands of Chinese are massing in the vicinity of Shanghai in preparation ■for an attack. The explosion of two hand grenades in front of the Japanese shipping office in West Hongkew, in the British defence sector, injured nine Chinese, including a constable. The police threw a cordon round the area. CHINESE OFFICIALS ACT REPRESENTATIONS TO LONDON CHUNGKING, Aug. 13. (Received Aug. 13. at 11.55 p.m.) Official circles are most disturbed over Britain's decision to hand over the four Chinese in Tientsin. The decision is regarded as tantamount to a death warrant. Vigorous representations are being made to London.