DEATH OF OFFICER

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 June 1936, Page 5

DEATH OF OFFICER

THE JAPANESE INCIDENT. STATEMENT IN COMMONS. (Received Tuesday, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, Monday. Reference Avas made in the House of Commons to the death of a Japanese officer in Peking on 26th May, in connection Avith allegations incriminating British soldiers belonging to the British Embassy Guard. Recalling that the preliminary investigation set on foot by the British Embassy as soon as the reports appeared in the local press had established that there had been no British troops either out on pass or on duty outside their oavu quarters at the time the incident Avas stated to have taken place, the Foreign Secretary stated that, folloAving the receipt of an official notification from the Japanese Embassy, a British Military Court of Enquiry Avas set up on Ist June. McanAvhile, Avhen permission Avas requested for the body of the murdered man to be examined by the doctor to His Majesty’s Embassy, he Avas informed that it had been cremated on 29tli May, that is, on the day before the Japanese note Avas handed in. The Japanese Embassy, hoAvfcver, submitted the testimony of a number of Japanese and Korean Avitnesses, Avho claimed that they identified three members of the British Embassy Guard as being involved in certain disturbances Avliich took place on the night of the murder. Investigations are proceeding.

Questioned about troop naval movements in the Far East, the Foreign Secretary replied that routine measures for the protection of centres of British interest in the area involved in the present disturbed situation had been taken. These measures consist of the holding in readiness at Hongkong of a battalion for possible reinforcement of the British garrison at Shanghai, and the formulation of plans for despatch in an emergency of units of the China fleet to the port affected. —British Wireless.