BADLY RECEIVED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1939, Page 5

BADLY RECEIVED

THE BRITISH AGREEMENT WITH JAPAN

CRITICISED AS WEAK AND ONE-SIDED.

RECOGNITION OF CONQUEST OF PARTS OF CHINA.

(Independent Cable Service.) LONDON. July 25. Mosi newspapers give ;i cold reeeption to Mr (Jhaiiiberlain’s statement on the Par Eastern dispute. The “News Chronicle" (Liberal) says: “The statement goes far to justify the Japanese claims that Britain has accepted the Japanese thesis. It is to be feared that Russia and the United States may feel there is more truth in the Japanese version of the talks than Mr Chamberlain’s inasmuch as actions speak louder than words. The Government might back up its interpretation by arranging forthwith a substantial credit to China." The "Daily Herald" (Labour) asks: “What is Japan recognising on behalf of Britain?” and points out that this is not disclosed. "The agreement, as stated by Mr Chamberlain, cannot possibly mean other than recognition of Japan’s conquest of parts of China,” it declares. AMERICAN VIEWS CRITICISM OF ROOSEVELT POLICY. BLIND EYE ON FAR EAST. NEW YORK, July 25. The “New York Times” comments that Britain has virtually granted belligerent rights to a nation which has not declared war. It says: — “The Japanese have scored a diplomatic victory. If she declared war the United States, one of the principal sources of supply, would be bound to clap down an arms embargo. Through the British concession she is now enjoying the best of both worlds.” The same paper adds: “It is unfortunate that Mr Chamberlain’s two statements in the Commons had to coincide. Signs of yielding on one front to strength another are understandable, but signs of yielding on two fronts are disquieting.” The New York “Herald-Tribune” says: “There will be much unjust, grumbling in the United States about a betrayal of the white man’s rights, and also China’s rights under international guarantees. “It must be remembered, however, that such grumbling will come with poor grace from this country, which has given Britain absolutely no encouragement to detend those treaty rights with which ours are bound up or any reason to believe we would champion our common rights if the European situation were abruptly to demand the concentration of all her strength on her own doorstep. “If the agreement leads directly to serious discomfiture among our people in China, we must reflect that the Administration studiously kept a blind aye to the Far East.” NO FAR EASTERN MUNICH CHIANG KAI-SHEK CONFIDENT. CHUNGKING, x July 24. General Chiang Kai-Shek said: “I am convinced that there can be no Far Eastern Munich,” adding: “It is incredible that Britain is really compromising with Japan.” China, he said, was calmly confident of destroying her enemy. She would maintain the value of the national currency and supply foreign exchange. PLANS COMPLETED FOR FULL CONFERENCE MEETING. (Received This Day. 9.30 a.m.) • TOKIO. July 25. The Foreign Office has announced that a committee has completed negotiations for a full conference meeting at 10.30 a.m. tomorrow. CHINESE DOLLAR VALUE TO BE MAINTAINED. STATEMENT BY CHIANG KAI-SHEK. (Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, July 25. The “Financial News” says General Chiang Kai-shek gave an assurance that the Chinese Government would maintain the value of the national currency and supply foreign exchange for the purposes of legitimate transactions. He added that the fall in the value of currency would not impair China’s ability to continue her resistance,, as long ago she had laid up adequate military stores and set aside foreign exchange to meet replenishment needs, without the necessity of converting her gold reserves.