HOPE OF SETTLEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1939, Page 5

HOPE OF SETTLEMENT

MR CHAMBERLAIN SPEAKS WITH RESTRAINT

QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN COMMONS. CONVERSATIONS IN TOKIO. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY, June 26. In answer to a question on Tientsin Mr Neville Chamberlain intimated that Sir Robert Craigie was discussing the present situation, in all its aspects, with the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr H. Arita, and added that he had some reason to hope that this discussion might lead to a settlement of the - affair. He explained that, with - this in view, he did not want ’ to say anything which would ! prejudice a satisfactory issue to • these conversations. The same restraint ■ was evident in the Premier’s replies to supplementary questions. At the same I time Mr Chamberlain insisted that in-. ! dignities inflicted on British nationals, a number of further instances of which were mentioned in his statement, must cease. Lord Halifax had spoken in the strongest terms on this point to the Japanese Ambassador and similar representations had been made by Sir Robert Craigie in Tokio. The Premier confirmed that the Japanese Government had not expressly formulated wider demands arising out of the Tientsin incident and told Mr Anthony Eden that the hopes he entertained for a successful outcome of the conversations now going on in Tokio were derived from the conversations themselves. He added that, while agreeing that past experience showed that assurances given in Tokio were not always honoured on the spot, he trusted the Japanese Government would be able to restrain its subordinates in Tientsin. The Premier’s original answer recounted that there were no changes in the general situation at’Tientsin. Arrivals of perishable foodstuffs continued to be spasmodic. The local municipal and military authorities had food supplies under constant review and had authority to take such measures as appeared appropriate. MORE INCIDENTS BRUTALITY BY JAPANESE INSUFFERABLE BEHAVIOUR IN TIENTSIN. (Independent Cable Service.) TIENTSIN.' June 26. The behaviour of Japanese sentries in Tientsin yesterday was insufferable. A British employee of the International Export Company. Mr ’ Donaldson, was compelled to strip and open his mouth. A sentry hit him on the chin, shutting his jaws, and then made him put out a cigarette with his bare foot. He then forced him out of the shed clad only in a shirt, ordered him to bend as he left; and kicked him. Other similar instances, as well as a tightening of the restrictions against bringing in food, are reported. ATTACK ON FOOCHOW PREDICTED BY CHINESE. EXTENSION OF COASTAL CAMPAIGN. SHANGHAI. June 26. Informed Chinese predict that the next Japanese move will be directed against the treaty port of Foochow, in the neighbourhood of which renewed Japanese naval and aerial activity is reported. This is believed to foreshadow a landing at the mouth of the Min River, which Japanese are already patrolling. One Japanese planes yesterday bombed a wide area in eastern Kwangtung in an attempt to halt the I Chinese reinforcements going to Swatow. Thirty planes caused havoc at Mingshing, and fifty deaths are reported from Chinghai as a result of bombings. Nineteen Japanese planes carried cut seven raids on Changteh. They dropped 500 bombs, causing tremendous damage and heavy casualties. BOMB VICTIMS TWO CANADIAN MISSIONARIES DEAD. OTTAWA. June 26. Tlie Rev A. A. Carswell and his wife, Canadian Holiness missionaries, are reported to have been killed in China by Japanese bombs, which on Friday destroyed the Canadian mission in Changteh, where they were stationed.