TENSION IN FAR EAST

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20833, 17 June 1939, Page 7

TENSION IN FAR EAST

GRAVE SITUATION DEVELOPING JAPANESE BLOCKADE OF FOREIGN CONCESSIONS THREAT TO TREATY RIGHTS OF FOREIGN POWERS fOfficial Wireless) (Received June 17, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, June 16 The developments leading to the grave situation at Tientsin have been so rapid as hardly to give an opportunity for a just appreciation of the issues raised by the Japanese blockade of the British and French concessions. The position, as it appears to British official circles, was re-stated to-day, and it was pointed out that in certain eventualities Britain would he compelled to consider immediate active steps to protect British interests in China. It was recalled that the situation in Tientsin has arisen owing to the Japanese demand for the surrender of four Chinese who were alleged by the Japanese to be implicated in the murder of another Chinese in the British concession on April 9. The standpoint of the British authorities has been that hitherto sufficient evidence has not been forthcoming to establish a prima facie case which would justify them in handing over these four men, who are in detention by the municipal police, to the local district court, and it should be noted that the Japanese have consistently refused to furnish evidence. As has already been made clear, however, the British authorities agreed to submit this aspect of the question to the judgment of an independent advisory- committee of three reputable persons under a neutral chairman. The Japanese would have been represented on this committee, and America agreed to nominate a member. The purpose of the proposed committee was to advise whether, in its opinion, the evidence available against the four accused was in fact adequate to justify their being handed over for trial. Britain was prepared to bind herself beforehand to accept whatever conclusions this body- might reach, but even this proposal did not find favour in the eyes of the Japanese in Tientsin, who decided to proceed with their plans for imposing a blockade of the British and French concessions. It is emphasised that the British offer to submit evidence against the accused to this advisory committee has not been withdrawn. Meanwhile far graver issues have been raised by statements received from the local Japanese authorities in China. Recently, it may be recalled, Britain, America and France found it necessary to make representations to Tokio regarding statements by the spokesman of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 24, which seriously threatened the treaty rights of foreign Pow-ers in China. Such statements have recently been sharpened in a threatening manner by the Japanese spokesman.

Serious View of Demands It is clear from those statements that the surrender of the four accused is no longer regarded as a reason for the imposition of the measures against the British concession. While, therefore, the position regarding the four arrested Chinese remains as described above, British circles cannot but take the most serious view of the further demands which have been made and which raise the widest issues, affecting the rights' of all those Powers which have treaty rights in China. They would mean the abandonment, under threats of force, of the policy which Britain has followed in the past, which is the same as that of the other great Powers with interests in the Far East. It is s* aped that the Japanese may not n.%* »ain their refusal to give further consideration to the proposals which have been made to localise the incident, but in authoritative quarters in London it was left in no doubt that If, unhappily, the new demands foreshadowed from official Japanese sources in North China should be persisted in, then an extremely serious situation will have arisen, and Britain will have to consider what immediate active steps she can take for the protection of British interests in China. ARBITRATION OFFER EXPECTED BY THE JAPANESE FROM FRENCH OR AMERICANS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. copyrig-nt) (Received June 17. 3 p.m.) LONDON. June 16 The British United Press’ Tokio correspondent states that an arbitration offer from either the Americans or the French is considered possible. BRITAIN AND FRANCE IMPORTANT STAFF TALKS STRENGTHENING OF DEFENCES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, June 16 The British naval cornmander-in-chief in the Far East, Admiral Sir Percy Noble, and Major-General A. E. Grasett, general otllcer commanding the British forces in China, have proceeded to Singapore from Hongkong aboard 11.M.5. Kent for talks with French naval and military uflicers. The Minister or the Navy, M. Campinchi. in order to strengthen France's Far Eastern defences, lias awarded urgent contracts for the new na\al base at Cam-ranh. lndo-Chma. and has ordered that the size of Saigon Harbour is to be doubled. The delivery of •'>«» Dutch warplanes to Indo-China has been begun, and factories will be established there for the manufacture of munitions, aircraft and aero eng^ea.

JAPANESE DECISION ARMY’S DEMANDS APPROVED MUST BE SETTLED LOCALLY United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received June 17, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, June 16 The Tokio correspondent of the Times says the Cabinet lias decided that the situation at Tientsin must be settled locally. This means that the Army’s demands are approved and a settlement has been left in the hands of the North ■China Command. Seventeen Japanese delegates are attending the Boxer memorial service, instead of a mass procession. BRITISH ATTITUDE STANDS BY ITS OFFER PREPARED FOR RETALIATION r Official Wireless) (Received June 17, 1 p.m.) RUOBY, June 16 The diplomatic correspondent of the Times says members of the Cabinet are standing by over the week-end lest grave developments at Tientsin require urgent Britisli action, or, alternatively, an explanatory message is received from Tokio clearing the air and allowing discussions to begin. The Government's altitude is plain. It stands by the offer of a tribunal, but If the Japanese at Tientsin pursue their high-handedness there will be retaliation, a detailed report on which has almost been completed by the departments concerned. PORT CUT OFF BLOCKADE OF KULANGSU STARVE INTO SUBMISSION (Independent Cable) HONGKONG, June 16 The Japanese announced to-day a complete blockade of Kulangsu settle--1 ment, Amoy. The port is completely j cut off by picket boats, and an eni- ; bnrgo has been placed upon importa- ; lion. | A Japanese spokesman, announcing i the blockade, said the refusal of the Municipal Council to accede to the previous Japanese demands for. rui organisation had left no alternative | but to starve t lie inhabitants of the j settlement into submission, j it is reported that the Japanese : authorities propose to adopt a similar j line of action to that taken at Tient- | sin. Five thousand people on the j island are facing a. serious food short-