JAPANESE ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1939, Page 5

JAPANESE ACTION

BARRICADES ON WHARVES AT SWATOW i POSITION AT TIENTSIN. BRITISH PROTESTS REJECTED AND RIDICULED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, June 26. The British United Press correspondent in Swatow reports that the Japanese have barricaded the British wharves with barbed wire, and ships are. unable to load or discharge or to take on urgentlyneeded supplies for Kulangsu be- . cause of the complete absence of Chinese labour. The local British and American Consuls protested against Japanese sen- ■ tries preventing the disembarkation of passengers and warned the Japanese Consul that it was intended to continue sending merchantment to Swatow under naval escort. The destroyer H.M.S. Thanet, and the American destroyer Pillsbury, are standing by. H.M.S. Scout left today for Hong Kong. In the total absence of the official declaration by the Central Government regarding Tientsin for which Britain is waiting, the deadlock in the Far Eastern situation continues, says a Tokio message. The Japanese Foreign Office spokesman said that the Government is still waiting for a detailed report from Tientsin for which reason it is impossible to reply to Sir Robert Craigie’s protest of last week. He added that replies to the local protests in Tientsin and Kulangsu would probably be unnecessary since oral explanations had already been given. He repeated the assertions that there was no discrimination against the British, and the indignities were over-magnified. Sir Robert Craigie has ' protested again and more sharply to the Foreign Minister, Mr Arita, in connection with the Davis and Finlay searching post incidents.

9 Tientsin reports that the Japanese military spokesman, replying to protests in regard to the stripping of Mrs Finlay, declared that no investigation had occurred, nor would future cases be investigated, as the regulations governing barrier examinations forbade the stripping of foreign women. During the interview newspaper men were handed the text of the Japanese Consul’s letter to Mr Jamieson, the British Consul, alleging that the indignity stories were fabricated and complaining that Britons had assumed a very arrogant attitude. Minor incidents, he asserted, had been exaggerated and distorted, and the letter asked Mr Jamieson to control and correct the British attitude, as otherwise “the responsibility for untoward incidents will hereafter lie on your side.” For the first time in many days meat appeared in the Tientsin market today —of doubtful freshness due to the lack of ice. Milk supplies are the merest dribble, seriously restricting the diet of the patients in the British Municipal Hospital. QUESTION FOR EMPIRE PROTECTION OF NATIONALS IN FAR EAST. (Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON. June 26. The “Evening Standard,” commenting on the Japanese attack on Mr Cecil Davis and the deaths of two Canadians at Changtah. says the issue is now a question for the whole Empire. The New Zealand Government. backed by the Australian Government. will be rightly jealous to uphold their prestige in the the Far East. Any British action must therefore be agreed upon with the Dominions. DESTROYER GOES TO CHEFOO. (Received This Day. 11 a.m.) HONG KONG. June 26. The flotilla leader Duncan has left Wei Hai Wei for Chefoo. TRADE HELD UP BRITISH SHIPS NOT ALLOWED TO UNLOAD. PASSENGERS PREVENTED FROM LOADING. (Received This Day. 9.30 a.m.) TOKIO. Jurfc 26. Two British ships re-entered Swatow but were forced to sail away without discharging their cargo or disembarking passengers. Their captains were informed that only mails and provi- i sions for foreign residents could be i landed.