SECRET ACTIVITIES

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1934, Page 5

SECRET ACTIVITIES

BRITISH AND JAPANESE MR. MACDONALD’S DENIAL NO TRUTH IN THE. STORY AMERICAN PRESS. REPORT British Wireless. Rugby, Nov. 12. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, Prime Minister, whose attention was called to a certain. Press statement published in the United States relating; to the London naval conversations; has authorised a statement, to- be. mad® on. behalf of the British Government.

, “I should like to> .have it thoroughly .understood,” the statement says, “that the American representatives, have been kept informed of what has passed between ihe. Japanese representatives and ourselves during these conversations, just as. the Japanese have been similarly informed of what has passed between the Americans and ourselves. . “There, is. no, truth in the story that (here, are intense secret activities between the British and the Japanese on. .the economic and political fronts. "As. regards Manchukuo and the- Japanese, and the situations which have been fully discussed in the. Press, we have, been asked, neither secretly nor otherwise to consider any offer of coh- . cessions. So far as the Government, is. 'concerned, the negotiations regarding thetextile situation have been in abeyance ifpr some months,

“For the industrial and commercial deputation recently in Japan the Federation of British. Industries is solely responsible,, and,, as its members themselves, stated, it has no other status.” , In the 'House, of Commons Mr. R. A., Eden,, Lord Privy Seal, stated in reply to a question.-that opportunity had already been taken to emphasise to- the Chinese Government, the entirely non.political and unofficial character of the British, industrial commission which re.centiy visited Manchuria,