TOKIO CONFERENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 July 1939, Page 5

TOKIO CONFERENCE

OPENING DATE NOT FIXED YET

Mr Chamberlain on Preliminary Conversations DENIAL OF REPORTED DEMAND BY JAPAN FOR REVERSAL OF BRITISH FAR EASTERN POLICY (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.48 a.in.) RUGBY. July 17. As a result, of Saturday’s meeting between Sir R. Craigie (British Ambassador to .Japan) and Mr 11. Arita (.Japanese Foreign Minister), as the first ol a. series of negotiations lot the solution of the Tientsin dispute, there was great interest in the House of Commons today. The Prime Minister (Mr N. Chamberlain), replying to questions, said: “As stated in the official communique issued in Tokio, Mr Arita and Sir R. Craigie met on July 15, at the former’s official residence, and held a friendly discussion ol the general questions forming the background to the situation which has arisen in Tientsin. The interview was adjourned to give time for further consideration ol the issues raised. ‘ ‘ The date for the official opening of negotiations in Tokio on questions arising out of the situation in Tientsin has not yet been fixed. There have been many statements in the Press, both in Japan and in Britain, that Japan will require a fundamental reversal of the Far Eastern policy of Britain as a condition of the opening of negotiations. I should like to make it clear that this country would not and could not so act in regard to its foreign policy at the demand of another Power, nor has Britain received any such demand from Japan. In Siir R. Craigie’s opinion, the Japanese official attitude would more correctly be described as a desire that Britain should endeavour to regard the Sino-Japanese hostilities with more understanding of Japan’s difficulties and of the Japanese side of the case. Britain shares the Ambassador’s view that to attribute to Japan intentions which may be found to have no basis in fact would only be calculated to prejudice the success of the forthcoming negotiations.”

OPINION IN LONDON

LITTLE HOPE OF RESULT FROM NEGOTIATIONS

JAPAN ASKING FOR AID AGAINST CHINA.

DEMAND THAT CANNOT SUCCEED.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, LONDON, July 17. British official circles in Tokio today denied that the talks on the Tientsin dispute are foredoomed to failure, though there is not much optimism of / success since both parties are not prepared to give

. ground. The Japanese are reported to be claiming that Tientsin is not British but Chinese and that the British usurped the Chinese sovereignty. The talks have been postponed till Wednesday because Sir Robert Craigie has not received new instructions from London.

“The Times,” in an editorial, says that there is little hope of any result but a deadlock if Japan persists in claiming British aid against China. If the negotiations fail and this is followed- by anti-British riots by obedient Chinese mobs, there will be no point in keeping British citizens in danger in Tientsin but every reason to give the Chinese Republic the full benefit of the friendliest neutrality. “The Japanese demand for such a concession cannot succeed if the Government of this country stand by their refusal to become passive accomplices of the Japanese militarists,” it adds.

EXCHANGE CONTROL

JAPANESE MEASURE IN NORTH CHINA.

APPEAL FOR AMERICAN INTERVENTION.

(Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.)

LONDON, July 17.

The Shanghai correspondent of “The Times” says the Peking Government’s new exchange control measure compels exporters of all except seven not important kinds of goods to obtain exchange through the Japanese Bank at the official rate of 14d. British firms at Tientsin are not attempting business on this basis and the American Chamber of Commerce again is appealing for Mr Cordell Hull’s intervention. COLONEL SPEAR NO DATE FIXED FOR TRIAL. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) PEKING, July 17. An official Japanese spokesman declared that a report that the trial of Lieutenant-Colonel Spear commenced today was untrue. He said the date had not yet been fixed.

Lieutenant-Colonel Spear, a British military attache, was arrested by the Japanese in Kalgan last month.