REJECTED BY GREAT BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1939, Page 5

REJECTED BY GREAT BRITAIN

Demand That Foreign Warships Leave Swatow LATER TALK OF “MERE REQUEST” DECLARATION BY AMERICAN ADMIRAL By Telegraph.—Press Association. — Copyright. LONDON, June 22. Reuter’s correspondent in Hie South China treaty port, ol Swatow, where the latest attack by the Japanese arnqt and navy was launched, says that the Japanese naval authorities yesterday ordered all foreign warships, including the destroxei H.M.S. Thanet and the U.S. destroyer Pillsbury to quit the harbour by 1 p.m. The Japanese ultimatum declared that the safety ot the foreigners in Swatow could not. be guaranteed after 1 p.m. 1 The British naval authorities announced that H.M.S. Thanet was remaining’ at Swatow despite the Japanese ultimatum, a message later stated from Hong Kong yesterday, It was understood that the Pillsbury was also remaining’. Today a message from Tokio reported that the naval spokesman said that Japan’s main reason for occupying Swatow was to strengthen the blockade ol the China coast, and increase the economic pressure against General Chiang Kai-shek in Swatow, which was the last remaining important munitions link for China. He denied that foreign warships and nationals were given a time limit. They were “merely requested to leave.’’ He added that the “occupation was without foreign complications.’’ It is reported from Hong Kong that the destroyer H.M.S. Scout is outside Swatow ready to join H.M.S. Thanet if necessary. The British steamer Yingchow is evacuating the British women and children and other nationals totalling 200 who desire to leave. The steamer is expected to sail this afternoon because serious fighting’ is expected in the city when the Chinese coun-ter-attack, for which troops are moving up. The Norwegian steamer Prominent is already proceeding to Hong Kong with 70 women and children from Swatow. It is understood that the machine-guns section of the First. Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, has received emergency orders to be ready to leave Clong Kong at six hours’ rfotice either for Swatow or Tientsin. The U.S. gunboat Asheville is reported to be going to Swatow from Hong Kong tomorrow. The Commander-in-Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet, Admiral Yarnell in refusing to withdraw the U.S. warship Pillsbury from Swatow, declared today in Shanghai that the United States would hold Japan responsible for damage to American lives or property resulting from the military operations. Admiral Yarnell is reported to have told the Japanese naval authorities that the American navy’s duty was to protect its nationals, which it intended to carry out.