CONDITIONS IN CHINA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1939, Page 5

CONDITIONS IN CHINA

REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS TIENTSIN POSITION EASED. ANTI-BRITISH AGITATION ELSEWHERE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 3. The Foreign Under-Secretary, Mr R. A. Butler, reported in the House of Commons today that hostilities on the Outer Mongolian border (Manchurian frontier) were brought to a standstill on September 16 on a truce between the Japanese and Soviet Governments. A new Japanese offensive had developed against the Chinese forces in the provinces of Hunan and northern Kiangsi, and was still continuing. There had been a distinct improvement in the local conditions in Tientsin following co-operation between the British and Japanese authorities in dealing with the flood menace, and there had been a welcome diminution in the discriminatory treatment- of British subjects at the barriers. But the anti-British agitation had not ceased in Peking or in the outlying areas in north China under Japanese Control.

The Admiralty had decided to withdraw from their services on the Yangtse River peacetime patrol gunboats Which, with the highly-trained personnel, would be employed elsewhere. The British Government was maintaining close contact with the United States Government in regard to their common interests in the Far East.