BRITISH SUBJECTS IN FAR EAST

Southland Times, Issue 24651, 24 January 1942, Page 5

BRITISH SUBJECTS IN FAR EAST

(8.0.W.) RUGBY, January 22. Very few particulars are available about individual British subjects in enemy-occupied territory in the Far East, but it has been learned through official channels that towards the end of December British officials at Shanghai, Canton, Hankow, Tientsin and Peking were confined to hotels or Consular compounds and were being well treated. Other British subjects there were not interned. The banks were open but withdrawals from British deposits were restricted to 2000 local dollars monthly. The international and French municipalities were co-operat-ing with the Japanese to maintain order and ensure a supply of food and other essentials. Urgent cases of distress were being assisted by the Swiss Consul-General. Other information about the position at Shanghai is that British subjects are required to register themselves and their property, that all broadcasting stations and newspapers and most British banks, clubs and missionary property, and so on, has been taken, that rice is rationed and that there is a shortage of coal and petrol. CONSUL-GENERAL INTERNED According to a telegram sent by the British Ambassador at Chungking on January 9, the British Consul-General at Amoy had been interned at the Amoy Club and other British subjects were released on parole after several days’ detention. At Hangkow foreigners were reported to be safe and well up to December 19, but were confined in their homes. At Saigon, British subjects, formerly in confinement, have been assigned fixed residence, but with permission to move about freely. All other British subjects, who have resided for 15 years in Indo-China, were free at the time of this report, and safe conducts for movement outside their places of residence were being issued by the French police.