LITTLE OPTIMISM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 167, 18 July 1939, Page 7

LITTLE OPTIMISM

TALKS IN TOKIO IF JAPANESE TACTICS CONTINUE INCREASED BRITISH AID FOR CHINA (By Telegraph—Fros Association —Copyright) Received July 17, 11.15 p.m. 1 LONDON, July 17. 1 British official circles in Tokio ( denied that the Tientsin talks were foredoomed to failure, al- j though there is not much optiui- 1 ism regarding their success, rince j both parties are not prepared to 1 give ground. The Japanese are, s reported to be claiming that t Tientsin is not British, but 1 Chinese, and that the British s ursurped Chinese sovereignty, i The Times, editorially, says: “There < is little hope of any result. It will i end in a deadlock if Japan persists in I claiming British aid against China. If j the negotiations fail and are followed I by anti-British riots by obedient 1 Chinese mobs, there will be no point in keeping British citizens in danger ( at Tientsin, but there will be every i reason to give the Chinese Republic 1 the full benefit of the most friendly 1 I neutrality. The Japanese demand for c such a concession cannot succeed if the Government of this country stand by their refusal to become the passive accomplices of the Japanese militarists.” The Tokio correspondent of The Times says that the anti-British manifestations in the city ceased as suddenly as they had begun. The British Embassy gates are wide open, the j peaceful conditions coinciding with the , initiation of the talks between Sir ' Robert Craigie (British Ambassador j to Japan) and Mr. Arita (Japanese Foreign Minister). On the contrary, there are hostile s demonstrations in other parts of j Japan, Manchukuo. aVd China which 1 were unabated at. the week-end. TALKS POSTPONED ; : z Received July 18, 1 a.m. , v TOKIO. July 17. The talks have been postponed until 1 Wednesday because Sir Robert s Craigie has not yet received new in- J structions from London. i RUSSIAN AIR RAIDS ( INSIDE MANCHUKUAN BORDER J Received July 17, 11.55 p.m. J TOKIO. July 17. p Eight Russian planes bombed the i vicinity of Halunarshah railway station, 37 miles inside the Manchukuo' frontier. The explosives injured four Manchukuans, destroyed four car- ‘ riages, and set fire to a number of. hnildinp-s. .Tanan has nrotested to t.

buildings. Japan has protested to Moscow. An earlier raid occurred at Fulark station, 185 miles north-west of Harbin, where seven persons were injured. APOLOGY MADE DAMAGE TO GUNBOAT COMPENSATION OFFER. Received July 17. 6.15 p.m. ' TOKIO, July 16. It is officially announced that the Japanese naval authorities at Shanghai have apologised to the captain of the British gunboat Falcon for damage sustained during the Japanese air raid on Chungking on July 6. and have offered to pay compensation. REJECTED BY POWERS JAPANESE RIGHT OF BLOCKADE Received July 17. 11.55 p.m. LONDON, July 17. 11 is reported from Hongkong that the British. American and French embassies have rejected the Japanese demand for the right to blockade Tungshan, Chaonhesin and Chuachowfu. The blockade began on Sunday, the Japanese enclosing the harbour with mines and blooms. The embassies are informing the Japanese naval authorities that they will be held responsible for the protection of the lives and property of foreign subjects.