BIG RAILWAY ORDER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20477, 1 December 1934, Page 25 (Supplement)

BIG RAILWAY ORDER.

British Delegation’s Reported Success in Japan. A POLITICAL GESTURE? (Special to the “ Star.’’) SAN FRANCISCO, November 6. TN SEPTEMBER an important British mission passed through San Francisco, bound for the Orient. Its object was variously stated as being to seek work for British industries and to promote new diplomatic relations with Japan The mission comprised Lord L'.arnby, a director of Lloyds Bank; Sir Charles Seligman, London banker; Mr Guy Locock, director of the Federation of British Industries; Mr Julian Piggott, special envoy of the British Steel Federation; and Mr A. E. Edwards, British a "viser on Manchukuo. Now comes the news to San Francisco that the Barnby mision bearing orders for 40,000,000 dollars’ worth of railway equipment, is speeding back across the Pacific, assertedly intent on reaching London before the five-Power naval conversations are concluded. It is asserted also that the party’s visit to Japan is a preliminary to British recognition of the puppet State of Manchu-' kuo. Political significance is attributed to Tokio’s sudden, generous gesture toward British industry at this time for these reasons: (1) The 40,000,000-dollar order comes at a moment when Japan is angling desperately for British support of her demands for naval parity which the United States opposes; (2) it comes at a moment when Japan has bared her teeth to the American attitude on navies by announcing formation of a new oil monopoly that will impair foreign investments of Standard Oil of New York and Standard Oil of New Jersey, pioneers in Far Eastern petroleum fields; (3) it comes at a moment when Japan has recognised the futility of the baits held out to France, Russia and the United States in an effort to win recognition for Manchukuo. According to Mr Clifford Fox, a San Francisco authority on Oriental affairs: “ Japan expects that the return the Barnby mission to London with so huge an order is certain to influence British public opinion in her favour during the naval conversations. The order emanated from the Japanese-owned South Manchuria Railway. Credit arrangements were left to the British banking firm of Baring Brothers, with whom special London representatives ol the South Manchuria Railway will sign the formal contract as soon as the mission gets back to London.” *