THE TOKIO TALKS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20888, 21 August 1939, Page 7

THE TOKIO TALKS

POSITION CLARIFIED STATEMENT BY BRITAIN CAUSE OF DEADLOCK (omcial Wireless) (Received August 21, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, August 20 The Foreign Office has issued the following statement clarifying the position reached in the talks at Tokio: “On June 27, as a result of an exchange of views between Brituin and Japan, it was agreed that conversations should take place at Tokio in order to effect a settlement of the various questions relating to conditions in Tientsin. As announced by Mr Chamberlain in the House of Commons on July 24. preliminary conversations between Sir Robert Craigie, British Ambassador, and Mr Arita, began on July 15. “At the outset of the discussion Japan expressed the opinion that if progress were to be made in the removal of misunderstandings and the establishment of better relations it was essential to recognise tlie background against which the situation in Tientsin should be viewed. In order to meet this view Britain agreed upon the following formula: —Britain fully recognises the actual situation in China, where large-scale hostilities arc in progress and notes that as long us that state of affairs continues to exist Japan’s forces in China have special requirements for the purpose of safeguarding their own security ami maintaining public order in the regions under their control, and that they have to suppress or remove any such acts or causes as will obstruct them or benefit their enemy. Britain has no intention to counter any act or measures prejudicial to the attainment of the above-mentioned objects by the Japanese forces, and Britain will take this opportunity to confirm its policy by making it plain to the British authorities and British nationals in China that they should refrain from such acts or measures. Suppression of Terrorism “On the same day conversations were begun at Tokio between Britain and Japan and certain proposals were put forward by Japan as the basis of discussion. The majority of these proposals refer to police mutters and provide for closer co-operation between the authorities ol‘ the British Concession at Tientsin and the Japanese army of occupation in North China for the purposes of suppressing terrorist acts and maintaining law and order, and inasmuch as these proposals do not affect the administrative intergrity of the Concession and generally conform with the practice already in force at Shanghai Britain has made considerable progress towards an agreement, subject to final settlement on certain points of detail. “In addition to the proposals on police matters Japan put forward certain proposals which included enforcement by Ihe British authorities of regulations prohibiting tiie use of Chinese national currency within the Concession and the removal of certain silver reserves from the Concession at Tientsin and from the diplomatic quarter at Peking. Other Powers Must be Consulted “It was at once apparent to Britain that the scope of these proposals was not confined to purely local issues at Tientsin and that they related to other economic and financial features of the present situation in North China, including certain measures of restriction placed upon exchange and trade on which the views not only of Britain but of certain other Governments have already been communicated to Japan. “It also became clear, as a result of a careful scrutiny of the position, that Britain couLd not, even if it wished, conclude a bilateral agreement which might affect the position of other Powers without the consent of those Powers. For this reason Britain had come to the conclusion that it cannot by itself properly put forward or accept any proposals on matters of this nature which might prejudice the interests of third parties, and Britain lias therefore intimated to Japan that no discussions on the economic proposals put forward by th© latter can, in its view, lead to any useful result on a purely Anglo-Japanese basis. “Britain, however, expressed its willingness to examine the position afresh, provided the interests of all parties can be saieguarded.” FUTURE OF NEGOTIATIONS NEXT MOVE FROM BRITAIN JAPAN’S POLICY UNCHANGED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Aug. 20 The future of the Anglo-Japanese negotiations is obscure, says the Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain. The official opinion is that the next move must come from Britain. The statement issued in London is not regarded as sufficient cause for Japan to end the talks, but it is declared that if Britain convenes the parties to the Nine-Power Pact Japan will immediately withdraw. The Japanese newspapers emphasise that Tokio’s policy in China will not be altered, no matter what Britain does. The Prime Minister, Baron Hiranurna, and Mr Arita had a lengthy conference on the latest developments, and the Minister of War. General Itagaki. summoned Army leaders. General Sugiyama. Japanese Com-mander-in-Chief in China, interviewed, said lie was prepared to consider the return of the Tientsin military delecrates to Tokio if Britain showed sincerity regarding Japan’s economic demands. The Acting Secretary of ?tate, Mr Sumner Wells, says Britain has the support of the United States in rejecting the Japanese demands that Chinese economic questions be included in the Tokio talks, states a Washington despatch.