Serious View Taken by Britain

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 71, 16 December 1937, Page 5

Serious View Taken by Britain

-Presn Assn.-

NOTE TO TOKIO Impairment of Anglo-Japan-ese Relations COMPENSATION CLAIMS

(By Telegraph-

— Copyright.)

(Received 16, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 15. Mr Anthony Eden, I'preign Minister, in the Houso of Commons, announced that a Note had been leceived from Japan. apologising for the "accidental" bonibings of British ships and offering compensation and punishment of the offenders. He added that he would send a reply to Japan defining Britain ;s attitude toward the whole series of incidents, emphasising the seriousness of the situation and requesting a definite assurance that thero wo>uld be no repetition. "The Japanese Government itself realises that the incidents must impair the relations between the two countries, ' ' Mr Eden added. "The British Note indicates the Tequirements wbich iu the Government 's judgment arise from the situation. The Japanese Noto states that the Government has taken iramediate measures to preveut a recurrence and will deal with thoso responsible on completion of its investigation and 'is prepared to pay tne necessary compensation for damage to your country. The Imperial Government earnestly hopcs that the occurrence of these unfortunate incidents will not impair the traditional friendship of the two countries.' " Mr Eden said that no date had been fixed by the Japanese Government for the payment of compensation for damage to British lives and property ra Shanghai, Nanking and elsewhere, but negotiations were progressing for the payment of the claims. The British Note to Japan (says a supplementary British Official Wireless message), after outlining in detail the incidents connected with the attacks on British gunboats and shipping on the Yangtse, aaus: "His Majcsty's Government has row been glad to receive the Note of December 14 offering the profound apology of the Imperial Japanese Government for the attacks on His Majesty's ships, stating that measures were immediately taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents, and adding that it will deal suitably with those responsible and pay the necessary compensation. "His Majesty's Govenrment observes that the Note makes mention of attacks on British merchant vessels, and I am instructed to request that an assurance may be given that all that is said in that Note applies equally to these attacks . "His Majesty's Government takes particular note of the statement that those responsible will be suitably dealt with. Adequate punishment of those responsible for the particular attacks under discussoin seems, indeed, to his Majesty's Government to be the only method by which further outrages can be prevented. "His Majesty's Government cannot but recall previous incidents in which the Japanese Government has expressed regret for attacks made on British nationals and property and has given assurances that adequate steps have been taken to prevent any repetition, It calls to mind the attack made on the British Ambassador in China while travelling by road from- Nanking to Shanghai, the subsequent attack on motor-cars conveying British official& on a similar journey, the attacks on British civilians and military posts on the defence perimeter at Shanghai, as well as other incidents, and the repeated assurance of the Japanese Government of its intention fully to respect the interests of third Powers in the present conflict with China. "It ls clear," the Note declares, "that the Bteps hitherto taken by the Japanese Government to prevent such attacks have bo far failed in • that purpose, and his Majesty's Government must now seek to be informed that measures have actually been taken of a character whicn will put a definite stop to the incidents of which it complains."