EXCHANGE OF VIEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20843, 29 June 1939, Page 5

EXCHANGE OF VIEWS

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION SEEKING A SETTLEMENT DEMANDS BY JAPAN (Omcial Wireless) (Received June 29. 11.25 a.m.) RUGBY, June 28 Tiie Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, announced the opening of negotiations in Tokio for a settlement of the Tientsin situation. He said: “The Britsh Ambassador lias been for some lime in communciation with Hie Japanese Government on the position and I am now able to announce that as a result of the exchange of views which tins taken place between Britain and Japan it has been agreed shall take place in Tokio in order to effect a settlement of Hie various questions relating to the present conditions in Tientsin, and that representatives of the local British and Japanese authorities will be invited to Tokio for the purpose. These conversations, which are expected to start forthwith, will relate to local issues and will be designed to secure that while the neutrality of the concession shall be maintained British authority in the concession shall be preserved intact. “In view of these conversations Britain assumes that there will be an end to stripping, searching and similar incidents at Tientsin, and Britain has reason to hope that ibis will in fact he Hie case.” Regarding the situation at Tientsin Mr Chamberlain said Ihe arrivals of perishable foodstuffs continued to be spasmodic, only a fraction of the normal supplies reaching the British concession. The local British authorities were taking active steps to remedy the deficiency. All British subjects who have passed the harriers since the commencement of the blockade have been subjected to a rigorous search. The number of instances in which British subjects have been compelled to strip was fifteen, including one woman, but there did not appear to have been any such cases during the last day or two.

Britain Refuses Request

Regarding South China, the Japanese authorities announced military operations for yesterday against the treaty ports of Wenchow and Foochow. A request had been received from the Japanese Consul-General at Shanghai that all third Power vessels, including warships, should leave these ports by noon on Thursday. The British Consul-General at Shanghai replied pointing out that the right of British vessels to proceed to any port in China remained unaffected. Britain considered that the Japanese were consequently not entitled to exercise undue interference with the movements of British ships or endanger British lives and property. The situation regarding the visits of British merchant shipping to Swatow was still obscure and negotiations continued between the local British and Japanese authorities.

PASSENGERS FOR SWATOW

TRANSFERRED TO WARSHIP (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received June 29, 12.45 p.m.) HONGKONG June 28 The passengers and mail on the British steamer Siestan were transferred to the British destroyer Thanefc, which took them to Swatow.

WARNING TO JAPAN

BRITAIN AND UNITED STATES PEOPLE WANT TO LEAVE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, June 28 The British and American authorities have warned the Japanese that they will be responsible for interference with property and ships of their nationals at Foochow and Wenchow, and for endangering their lives. A mass meeting of British residents at Foochow favoured evacuation although the British Ambassador urged the Consul to dissuade them, owing to the difficulty of returning once they had left. The British destroyer Daring is standing by. The United States destroyer Asheville has joined H.M.S. Duchess at Foochow.