CRITICISED BY CHINESE FOREIGN OFFICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1939, Page 6

CRITICISED BY CHINESE FOREIGN OFFICE

Britain Reminded of League Pledges CONCESSIONS TQ JAPAN REGRETTED IN VIEW OF INVASION AND AGGRESSION (By TJpgraph—Press Association— Copyright.) (Received This Day. 11.15 a.m.) CHUNGKING,. July 5. A Chinese Foreign Office spokesman said the authorities cannot conceal their disappointnient at the British Government s attitude. “It is regrettable,” he said, “that it should have noted the so-called special requirements oi Japanese forces in China which are engaged, as Britain and other members ot the League of Nations have declared, in invasion and aggression. It is surprising that the British Government has undertaken to make plain to British authorities and nationals in China that they'should refrain from acts and pleasures prejudicial to the attainment ( of the aims) of the Japanese invading forces. The Chinese Government notes with some satisfaction, however, Mr Chamberlain's statement it was impossible for Britain to change her policy at the dictation of any other Power and also his assurance that the declaration has not connoted any change in British policy in China, based on treaty and justice, besides Britain’s owp.rights and interests which she has heretofore consistently carried out. Britain need scaicely be reminded of her pledge, under various League resolutions, to retrain from weakening China’s powers of resistance oi’ increasing her difficulties and also to make all pleasures of aid to China as effective as possible. The Chinese Government believes that, despite misgivings due to the announcement of the formula, tlie British Government will take up an attitude consonant with its legal and ijipral obligations to China in dealing with local issues at Tientsin and will demonstrate the firmness of her policy concerning the situation created by Japanese aggression.’ ’

STRONG PROTEST

BY SHANGHAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

AGREEMENT BITTERLY CONDEMNED.

(Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.)

SHANGHAI, July 25

The British Chamber of Conunerce has telegraphed to London bitterly condemning the Tokio agreement, which exposes the continued .existence of British trade to the whims of the Japanese military forces. ANNOYED “BRITISH DEMORALISATION. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, July 25. “The Times” Rome correspondent says Italian annoyance at the prospect of an Anglo-Japanese agreement is apparent from the newspapers, which declare that the agreement is ■combined with an attempt to buy off Germany and shows the depth of British demoralisation.