ISSUES IN DISPUTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 August 1939, Page 7

ISSUES IN DISPUTE

MORE ABOUT JAPANESE DEMANDS POSSESSION OF SILVER BULLION. AMBASSADOR'S REPORTED WARNING. LONDON, August 2. The Tokio correspondent of the British United Press says that the success of negotiations on the Tientsin dispute depends on whether Japan compromises on the silver and currency issues. Britain is reported to be willing to surrender the silver in the concession if the Japanese-controlled HopehChahar Political Council establishes proof of its previous ownership, and also if Japan relaxes her demands regarding British support for the Chinese currency. The “Asahi Shimbun” says that the Japanese delegates to the Anglo-Ja-panese conference are demanding the appointment of 30 Japanese gendarmes to police and judicial positions within the British concession in Tientsin. The newspaper “Nichi Nichi Chimbun” reports that the British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, called on the Japanese diplomat Mr Kato and declared that Britain might discontinue the negotiations unless Japan strictly controlled the anti-British movement in China and Japan. Sir Robert Craigie asked that this be conveyed to the Foreign Minister. Mr Arita. Mr Kato replied that the anti-British movement and the Tokio negotiations were entirely separate affairs. He added that the demonstrations in Japan were spontaneous and not sponsored by the Government, which would interfere only if law and order were endangered. He denied that Japan was connected with the movement in China. CONCERN IN LONDON DEMAND THAT DISORDERS BE PUT DOWN. AN EXPLICIT UNDERTAKING. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.33 a.m.) RUGBY, August 2. Surprise and concern is expressed in London at the continuance of the antiBritish agitation in the Japanese occupied areas in China. The formula upon which the Tokio negotiations were opened was accepted on an undertaking that order in these. areas would be maintained, but such demonstrations imply negation of order. If the Japanese are unable to carry out their guarantee it is felt here that it should not have been given. On the other hand, as is believed, it lies within Japan’s power to suppress these agitations they should at once be put down. CREDITS FOR CHINA STILL BEING CONSIDERED. NO CHANGE IN BRITISH POLICY. (British Official Wireless.! (Received This Day, 10.33 a.m.) RUGBY. August 2. The President of the Board of Trade Mr Oliver Stanley, in the House of Commons recalled that as stated in the House on March 6, and repeated on July 14, a proposal to give financial assistance for the benefit of British manufacturers, in respect to exports to China has Deen under consideration for some time. Certain technical and legal questions were still under consideration.

This statement followed Sir John Simon’s assurance that the AngloJapanese formula did not imply any change in Britain's view as to the desirability of maintaining the stability of the Chinese currency, in the interests of Britain and other countries which have important financial trade interests in China.