BRITAIN & JAPAN

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19913, 16 June 1936, Page 7

BRITAIN & JAPAN

DEATH OF A SOLDIER.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST TROOPS. EXONEhATED BY MILITARY COURT (omclal Wireless). (Received June 16, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, June 15. Reference was made‘ in the House of Commons to the death of a Jap—anese omcer at Peking on May 211. in connection with which allegations have appeared incriminating soldiers belonging to the British Embassy Guard. recalling that’a preliminary investigation. whirh was 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 on the pass or on duty outside their own quarters at the lime‘ when the incident was Sla'f’ll to have taken place. Tho Foreign Secretary stated that following the receipt, of official notification from the Japanese Embassy a British military court, of enquiry was set up in June. Meanwhile’, when permission was requested for the body or the murdered man to he examined by the doctor lo ills Majesty’s Embassy, he was informed that it had been cremated on May 29—that is, on the day be'fore ‘ the Japanese .\‘ote was handed in.

The. Outfit 07ft Ena‘uiVélijmEfiéEt-ively confirmed the result. of the preliminaryflinveftigntlons.

The Japanese Embassy. however. subsequently submitted testimonies of a number of witnesses of Japanese or Korean extraction in support or the original Japanese allegations. The‘se witnesses assert that they have identified three members of the British Em—bassy Guard as being involved in certain disturbances which took place on the night, of the murder. The investigations are proceeding. and the witnesses mentioned are to be examined by the Court. 01’ Enquiry.

UNREST IN FAR EAST. PROTECTING BRITISH INTERESTS TROOPS HELD 1N READINESS. (Omclul \Vlreless.) (Received June 16, 1.80 pm.) L. RUGBY, June 15. Questioned about troop and naval movements in the Far East, the Foreign Secretary replied in the House of Commons that routine measures for the protection or centres of British in—terest in the area. involved in the present disturbed situation have' been taken. These measures consist of the holding in readiness at iI-longkong or a battalion for the possible reinforcement of the British garrison at Shanghai and in the formulation of plans for the despatch in an emergency of units of the China l-‘le'et to the port affected.

.\lr Eden would not answer a question based on the hypothesls of Slno.lapanege hostilltles. except. to say that (every effort would be made to kee‘p the international settlement at Shanghul free of all hostilities.