BRITAIN AND FAR EAST

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 520, 24 November 1928, Page 9

BRITAIN AND FAR EAST

TOKYO PAPERS DISCUSS AN ALLIANCE UNSOLVED CHINA PROBLEM (United P.A.—By Telegraph Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. noon. TOKYO, Piiday. As a bolt from the blue, a sudden discussion of the possibilities of a revival of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance is occupying the newspapers. The desire for closer co-operation with Britain is admitted. Japan is realising that the time has arrived for concerted action by the interested Powers in their dealings with China. These views are supported by the business leaders, who propose a delegation to Hong Kong and Singapore to consult the British mercantile communities.

NEGOTIATIONS COLLAPSE JAPAN AND CHINA A SHANTUNG CONTENTION (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) 1 Reed. noon. SHANGHAI, Friday. Sino-Japanese negotiations for settlement of outstanding questions, which have been proceeding at Nanking intermittently for past month, are believed to have definitely broken down in consequence of China’s insistence and Japan’s refusal to evacuate Shantung. Dr. Yada, Japanese Consul-General j at Shanghai, who has been represent- | ing Japan, telegraphed his home j Government for specific instructions in regard to the Shantung question. Tokyo’s answer brought a deadlock, and Dr. Wang, the Chinese representative, terminated 'the negotiations accordingly. IMPROVED SITUATION WAR SECRETARY’S VIEW TROOPS TAKEN FROM CHINA British Official Wireless Reed. 11 a.m. RUGBY. Friday. At the annual dinner of the China Association last night, Sir Laming Worthington-Evans, British War Minister, referred to the marked improvement in the situation in China, and declared that the British interests there were not separate from, but parallel with, the interests of China. / He paid tribute to the services of the British forces at Shanghai. The British forces in China had already been reduced considerably, and still more battalions were coming away during the next trooping season. There was an efficient local force at Shanghai largely composed of business men, which, he hoped, would be developed with a view to any emerge: <y. The British taxpayers would have to pay altogether £4,000,000 on account of the defence force, and the Government felt that what could be done locally should be done. Referring to the general international situation, the Minister emphasised that peace was the main desire of the British Government. General Sir John Duncan, late commander of the British forces in China, made the point that the Chinese were not anti-British. They were proChinese, which was quite a different thing.