VIOLENCE & INSULTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1939, Page 5

VIOLENCE & INSULTS

INCIDENTS AT SEARCHING POSTS SHORTAGE OF FOOD SUPPLIES. SETBACK TO TRADE. TIENTSIN, Juno 15.' The danger of a food shortage in the British and French concessions is increasing. Replenishment is most difficult and is likely to become impossible. The Japanese sentries at the barricades have grown more provocative, and they are taking Jonger to search the pedestrians. Britons specially are being subjected to indignities. Japanese agitators tried to incite a mob of 2000 Chinese to rush the barri ■ cades of the British Concession'. British troops, armed with machine-guns and augmented by a strong body of police, moved up, and the mob remained quiet for hours before dispersing. A Welshman, Mr McKenzie, manager of the Pinao Company, was among* the many Britons who were stripped naked without gaining permission to enter the concession. A Hampshire man, Mr Ivor House, was pushed out of a queue by a Japanese officer, who struck him with the scabbard of his sword. Japanese smashed a Briton’s watch when they discovered it was set at Tientsin time instead of Tokio time. French and Americans today were searched with the same thoroughness as the British and Chinese. Prominent foreign business men are rubbing shoulders with coolies at the searching posts. The Japanese officially are permitting the entry of foodstuffs at the rate of a cartload every three hours, but the Chinese traders are most disinclined to handle it because of the risk of being regarded as anti-Japanese. No fresh milk was available in the British and French concessions today. The blockade may result in a severe setback to Peiping's trade because of the difficulties of passing cargoes through Tientsin. Shipping firms have been advised to cease temporary their operations on the Hai River. NO FOOD FROM SHANGHAI. SHIPMENTS SUSPENDED. SHANGHAI. June 15. British shipping firms announce the suspension of cargo services to Tientsin. The passenger trade will continue. MOVE IN HANKOW BRITISH SHIPPING FIRM BLOCKADED. SHANGHAI. June 15. The Japanese have blockaded the British shipping firm of Butterfield and

Swire in 'Hankow and are not allowing its employees to reach the company’s offices, warehouses and docks. which are near the Customs office. BRITISH INTERESTS PROTECTION CONSIDERED IN LONDON. CONTACT WITH DOMINIONS & FOREIGN POWERS. (Received This Day. 9.35 a.m.) LONDON. June 15. The High Commissioners conferred with the Secretary for the Dominions. Sir Thomas Inskip, at the Dominions Office regarding what action the Government is considering to protect British interests in Tientsin and in North China. It is confirmed that the Board of Trade has been asked to report on what reprisal measures can be taken. Constant communication is being maintained between England. France, America and the Dominions. A statement, on behalf of the Government. will be made in the House of Commons this afternoon.

NEW ORDER DAYS OF CONCESSIONS NUMBERED. ACCORDING TO JAPANESE SPOKESMAN. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) TIENTSIN, June 15. A Japanese news agency quotes a Foreign Office spokesman as saying that the days of foreign Concessions in China are numbered. Tientsin is the first objective of the establishment of a new order in China and Shanghai is the most important immediate consideration. NO COMPROMISE REPORTED JAPANESE 1 DECISION. BLOCKADE TO CONTINUE. (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) TOKIO, June 15. At the conclusion of a three day conference between Japanese military and civil representatives it was decided to continue the blockade until Britain radically revises her pro-Chiang Kai-shek and anti-Japanese policies and that Japan will reject a “patchedup compromise.” CONCESSION GUARDS BRITISH TROOPS FACING JAPANESE. SEPARATED BY FEW YARDS. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, June 15. A despatch from the Tientsin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain states that 100 British troops and Chinese police erected a barricade of sand-bags on the Machang Road and mounted light machine-guns, which are trained on Japanese sentries in a nearby searching post. The Japanese have brought up four light tanks. A few yards separate the British and Japanese troops.

Multi-coloured anti-British handbills have been dTstributed in the Japanese controlled areas bordering on the concessions. ITALIAN VIEW JAPAN’S “STRONG ACTION.” (Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) ROME, June 15. The “Popolo D’ltalia” says Japan’s strong attitude at Tientsin represents a totalitarian counter-offensive to the democratic coalition.