DEADLOCK FEARED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19994, 20 July 1939, Page 5

DEADLOCK FEARED

TALKS IN TOKIO DIPLOMATS’ ANGRY MOOD BRITAIN STANDS FIRM DLHANDS BY JAPAN < >PT IMISM UN \Y ARRA NT E D (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United I’ress Assn.) I Reed. July 20, Noon.) LONDON. July 19.

An Associated Press message from Tokio states that after heated talks for two sessions totalling five hours, Sir Robert Craigie, the British Ambassador, and tlie Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. H. Arita reached a complete deadlock in their efforts to establish a basis for a conference on the Tientsin issue.

It is authoritatively stated that the two parted in an angry mood, postponing another meeting until Friday.

Sir Robert Craigie is communicating with London with a view to a complete disagreement.

Mr. Arita is adamant that it is useless to continue the talks unless Britain revises the whole of her policy in .the Far East.

It was anticipated that the Japanese Foreign Office would make a statement to-night. A communique on the negotiations merely records the adjournment in order to give time for further consideration. No Change of Atmosphere He adds that Sir Robert Craigie and Mr. Arita discussed the general background of the Tientsin situation. The Domei News Agency says it is understood that there was no change in the atmosphere between Sir Robert Craigie "•‘l Mr. Arita. Sir Robert Craigie, in the second session, maintained a conciliatory attitude, but stood firm to Britain’s claims. Optimism is unwarranted, but it could not be said that there is no hope of success.

Other Domei News Agency reports state that Sir Robert Craigie informed Mr. Arita that a clearly stiff altitude was prevailing in Britain. but because of his manifest desire for conciliation ther e was no reason for pessimism.

The correspondent of the British United Press in Tokio, says that it is understood that to-day's discussions centred on Japan's request that Britain should recognise partial belligerent rights without an actual Japanese declaration of war on China. New Formulas Found The Tokio correspondent of The Times says that the fact the conversations dealt with the general background of Tientsin, for the discussion of which Japan demanded preference, is accepted as the first instalment of success. The tone of the press is more moderate and the demands for a reversal of British policy have disappeared from its columns.

It is obvious that Mr. Chamberlain’s statement that Britain would not change her policy and had not been asked to do so has been endorsed in official circles. New formulas have now been found under which Britain is asked to recognise that a state of hostilities exists and that the area around Tientsin is controlled by the Japanese army.

The Times adds that this may he the thin end of the wedge, the other end of which is still hidden, tout according to the Japanese it merely asks for recognition of obvious facts.