ISSUES AT TIENTSIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1939, Page 7

ISSUES AT TIENTSIN

NEGOTIATIONS OPENED BRITISH OFFICIAL GOING TO TOKIO. WAR POSSIBILITIES DSCUSSED IN LONDON. LONDON, June 28. The Tokio newspaper “Asahi Shimbun” says that Japan has agreed to negotiate the Tientsin issue, for which British and Japanese officials from Tientsin are going to Tokio. Tokio today officially confirmed that negotiations with the object of ending the Tientsin blockade are being held there. The British Consul-General in Tientsin, Major Herbert, is leaving for Tokio by the first ship. “The Times,” in an editorial says that if the present tension in China came to a war the long trade routes from Japan would be open to attack without the employment of very much larger naval and aerial forces than are already available in the East The Japanese communications in China are also peculiarly vulnerable. “There is an earnest hope here that a settlement will be reached with Japan. but the patience of the British public is not inexhaustible,” it adds. The “Daily Herald” says that if the Japanese, have reasonable suggestions these may well be accepted, but demands impinging on the autonomy of the Concession are out of the question, as also are demands for the recognition of Japanese currency.

SEARCHING METHODS EVIDENCE OF INDIGNITIES OFFERED. TIENTSIN, June 28. The British Consulate has asked the Japanese to produce evidence in support of their allegations that the British are exaggerating and fabricating happenings at the searching posts. Signed and incontroversible statements have been submitted to the Japanese Consul of indignities to Britons. JAPANESE POLICY PROPOSED CENTRAL PUPPET GOVERNMENT. PEKING, June 28. The Japanese are reported to be hastening preparations for the declarations of a form of federal government in China for the second anniversary of the war on July 7. MARTIAL LAW DECLARED BY CHINESE. PREPARATIONS TO DEFEND FOOCHOW. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) CHUNGKING, June 28. The Chinese have declared martial law at Foochow, which they are preparing to defend. Shipping has been forbidden to enter or leave the harbour after tomorrow. Heavy fighting has commenced at Yuhwang Island at the mouth of Wenchow Harbour. PASSENGERS & MAILS CONVEYED TO SWATOW BY DESTROYER. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) HONG KONG. June 28. The passengers and mail of the British steamer Siestan were transferred to tile British destroyer Thanet. which took them to Swatow. FOREIGN SHIPS LEAVE. BRITISH REFUSAL TO FOLLOW SUIT. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) HONG KONG, June 28. Italian and Norwegian ships complied with the request to leave Wenchow but British shipping at Foochow refused.