BRITAIN’S REPLY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1940, Page 5

BRITAIN’S REPLY

SEIZURE OF GERMAN SEAMEN

NOTE DELIVERED TO JAPAN.

INDICATIONS OF ANTI-BRITISH

FEELING

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrigh' TOKIO, January 27.

The British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, has delivered Britain’s reply to the Japanese protest about the seizure of Germans from the Japanese liner Asama Maru.

A Japanese Foreign Office communique stated that the Foreign Minister, Mr Arita, demanded “reconsideration of the legalistic expositions” contained in the British reply. The Reformist Youth Corps urged the Foreign Office to withdraw the Japanese Ambassador from London, occupy the British concession in China and aid Indian independence. Later they visited the Navy Office and suggested immediate preparations to fight. Japan has renewed “strong” reprepresentations to Britain and again suggested. the release of the German seamen.

An anti-British meeting was held in Osaka under the sponsorship of leading newspapers. A. thousand people attended and heard 30 speakers, after which they adopted a resolution urging vigorous opposition to the “British insolence to Japan.” They sent telegrams to the Government notifying their action.

Similar meetings were held in Kyoto, Kobe and other towns, according to the Dome! news agency.

The Tientsin correspondent of the American United Press states that the Japanese have suddenly tightened the blockade on the British and French concessions. Householders soon emptied the food markets, and prices doubled. The Japanese said they intended to electrify the barricades tomorrow.

The Shanghai correspondent of the United Press says the British authorities reported that a Japanese warship stopped and detained for 11 hours the British coastal passenger ship Wing Sang (3560 tons). It has not been determined whether it was retaliatory action, but officials are inclined to regard the incident as routine. The Shanghai correspondent of the American Press Association says the captain of the Wing Sang reported that the ship was stopped on Wednesday off Foochow by a shot across her bows. A boarding party inspected the passengers and demanded a signed statement that the ship had been searched in retaliation for the stopping of the Asama Maru, but the captain refused. PORTUGUESE LINER STOPPED BY ALLIED WARSHIPS. FIVE GERMANS TAKEN OFF. (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) LISBON, January 28.

The liner Quanza reports that a British warship, off Sierra Leone, took off two German passengers and a French warship later took off three more.