TOKIO FORMULA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20006, 3 August 1939, Page 7

TOKIO FORMULA

FACTS IN CHINA BRITISH IMPARTIALITY AREA OCCUPIED BY JAPS. NO CHANGE IN POLICY ASSURANCE IN COMMONS (Eli-c. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 2. The progress so far made in the Tokio negotiations regarding Tientsin was reviewed in the House of Commons to-day by the Foreign Undersecretary, Mr. R. A. Butler. lie said that agreement was nearing completion on certain points con'.octcd with police matters and these had been reported home for consideration. Further economic and other considerations were part of the future programme. In regard to police mailers they had decided by accepting the formula .0 recognise the situation of fact and to agree to maintain an attitude of impartiality in certain day-to-day contacts in a defined area and in certain circumstances. This attitude of recognising the situation of fact in the areas occupied by Japanese troops was the wisest policy in the interest of British nationals and of future British policy in the Far East, Organised Agitation There had been certain agitation in North China, most of it organised, .hey believed, by Japanese. Two British warships had been sent to the Tsingtao area and strong representations had been made to Japan. Japan must appreciate the force of reeling in the House of Commons on this matter. He trusted that they would realise that no negotiations or discussions could prevent tire relations between the two countries growing steadiy more difficult* unless this type of agitation was ended. The Government, he concluded, stood by the principles of the NinePower Treaty and had done more for Chinese currency than any other Government. Policy Affirmed Point? from yesterday's speech by the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, bearing on the position in the Far East are understood to be incorporated in a full statement analysing and reaffirming the British Dclicy towards China, which has been sent to the British Ambassador ■o China, Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, for transmission to Chungking. It makes clear that Britain’s attempt to face the facts in North China in no way implies that the policy is being altered. The press gives prominence to Mr. Chamberlain’s passage in which he explicitly denied some of the more flagrant misrepresentations of the formula of the negotiations reached in the Tokio negotiations, and in particular to the assurance that it did not make any change in policy. France has been kept fully informed of the British attitude towards the situation in the Far East. In answer to a question in the House of Ctunmons to-day, the Chancellor of tlie Exchequer, Sir John Simon, stated that the formula agreed upon -ait Tokio did not imply any change in Britain’s views as to the desirability of maintaining the stability Of Chinese currency in the interests of Britain and other countries with important financial and trade interests in China.