CHINA GARRISONS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 15 November 1939, Page 7

CHINA GARRISONS

BRITISH MINIMUM SUGGESTION REFUTED U.S.A. UNDERTAKING GUARDING CONCESSIONS (Eleu Tul. Copyright—United Press Assn.) ißecd Nov. 15, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 14. Following the announcement made from London yesterday that Britain had decided, for reasons of military convenience which have arisen from the conflict in Europe, to maintain in North China only the troops necessary to protect property and maintain order, the Tokio correspondent of the United Press of America says the Japanese newspapers note that neither Britain nor France has sacrificed any rights in North China as a result of the withdrawals of troops.

The Japanese press adds that neither Britain nor France has mentioned the possibility of solving the problems still at issue at Tientsin. Commentators in Tokio agree that the withdrawal will powerfully affect Chinese opinion and improve the outlook for Mr. Wang Ching-Wei’s Jap-anese-sponsored central Government Requests Not Made A Washington message reports that the State Department denied suggestions that t'he British and French Governments had requested the United States to assure protection, of their concessions in Tientsin. It is pointed out in Washington that Britain still has many troops in Tientsin, as America has also. The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, reiterated that the British reductions in North China had not changed the United States policy. There were no immediate plans to move more United States troops to China or elsewhere.

It is recalled in Washington that the United States recently increased the Far East naval strength, commissioning new submarines for the Asiatic fleet. There are now 1500 American troops at Shanghai, Peiping and Tientsin.