JAPANESE REPLY TO BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 145, 15 March 1939, Page 9

JAPANESE REPLY TO BRITAIN

Erection Of Live-Wire Round Concession

MORE PROTESTS TO TOKIO (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. March 13. Mr. E. G. Jamieson, British Consul-General in Tientsin, has teceived a reply from the local Japanese authorities in reference to protests concerning the erection of live-wire entanglements round the British concession.

The Japanese reply states that the measures were taken in selfdefence, the necessity £oi which will cease if the concession authorities co-operate effectively in preserving peace.

It adds that the insincerity of the authorities is enabling anti-Japanese elements to use the concessions for bases, and that the measures ate, therefore, designed to enable the Japanese, if necessary, to prevent communication between tlie anti-Japanese elements in the concessions and outside. The reply is now under the consideration of the British Government. Bombing Of Sian. The British Ambassador in Tokio, Sir Robert Craigie, has made representations to Tokio regarding the bombing by the Japanese of Sian, involving the wanton destruction of an English Baptist mission hospital there. The right to claim compensation has been reserved. Sir Robert Craigie is also making representations to Japan regarding the announcement by the socalled “Provisional Government of the Republic of China” that, as from March 11, the export of 12 specified commodities, which together account for a high proportion of the export trade of North China, will not be permitted unless foreign exchange proceeds are sold against the Federal Reserve Bank.

The representations are being made on the ground that interference is likely to be caused to legitimate British trade interests.

U.S.A. AND JAPAN

Treaty Violation Charge Not Borne Ont (Received March 14, 9.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 14. The State Department announced today that it has no evidence bearing out a charge that Japan has violated treaties regarding the Japanese mandated islands in the vicinity of Guam by fortifying these islands or permitting Germany to do so. The United States has protested again to the Japanese Government against the financial restrictions on trade through the imposition of the Japanese currency in North China.

GUERRILLA ATTACK IN NANKING Rival Army Claims SHANGHAI, March 13. Chinese guerrillas attacked a corps of the Nanking regime which was patrolling the western suburbs, after which Japanese reinforcements made a house-to-house search without result. The Japanese claim, to have captured a village opposite Shayang, 25 miles from Shasi, an important port on the Yangtse, which is apparently their next objective. The Chinese claim to have launched a counter-offensive in West Shansi, where, they declared, Hoods have thwarted Japanese attempts to invade the Shensi Province. The Japanese made an air raid on Loyang, and demolished 400 houses and caused 50 casualties.