CRY IN TOKIO

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19990, 15 July 1939, Page 5

CRY IN TOKIO

“ENEMY OF HUMANITY** HUGE CROWDS PARADE .MOB FRENZY CREATED ATTACK ON EMBASSY (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. July 15, 12 noon) LONDON, July 14.

A Tokio message states that the British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie. and the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. 11. Arita, are meeting for preliminary discussions do-day and to-morrow.

On the eve of the negotiations, the city is plastered with posters reading: “Punch the British nose.” and “Let’s all knock - the British.” It is estimated that 15,000.000 people attended yesterday's demonstrations throughout Japan.

A huge crowd gathered at the British Embassy in Tokio at 2 p.m. local time shouting anti-British slogans. Extra police were rushed to the embassy, but failed to disperse the mob, which, worked up to a frenzy, began to hurl stones at the windows and fried to crash the gates with motor cycles.

A delegation delivered a resolution to the British Embassy stating that 7,000,000 citizens of Tokio were determined to overthrow Britain, which was tlie enemy of humanity. The demonstration was the largest against a foreign Power in tlie history of Japan. Trade Boycott Suggested Anti-British de m oils tr a lions in 27 cities demanded a boycott of Japan’s foreign trade with Britain and Australia. The Domei News Agency says that everything in Tientsin depends on the British attitude at the Tokio negotiations. The blockade is merely the first stage. Japan is widening two further stages and tightening up progressively. The Japanese Consul-General at Tsingtao told the British ConsulGeneral that the Japanese would not protect British lives or property in future if the British protested and claimed damages for the demonstrations on Wednesday. The Consul appealed for guidance from London.

The Japanese news agency in Shanghai says that the Central China Anti-British Federation at Nanking passed a resolution proposing tlie temporary custody of British property, -which could be .returned when Britain changes her attitude towards events in China.

An Independent Cable Service message from Tokio states that two bombs were thrown at the British Consulate in Tsingtao in the course of a big anti-British demonstration. Several windows were broken, but there were no casualties. The Japanese Consul called and apologised, and promised a full investigation.