SHANGHAI OUTRAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 February 1941, Page 8

SHANGHAI OUTRAGE

JAPAN EXPRESSES REGRET

MR. KESWICK’S WOUNDS NOT SERIOUS.

ASSAILANT TO BE TRIED

Official Wireless.) RUGBY. January 29

Asked in the House of Commons as to the action taken by the Government regarding the attempted assassination of Mr. W. J. Keswick, chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council, and for information relating to the occurrence, Mr. R. A. Butler. Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said that at a special meeting of ratepayers in the International Settlement on January 23. -Mr. Keswick was shot at and wounded by Mr. Hayashi, chairman of the Japanese Association. The shooting was accompanied by scenes of disorder on the part of Japanese ratepayers. The British Ambassador to Japan. Sir Robert Craigie. made strong representations about the disorderly conduct of the Japanese ratepayers, and pressed for early suitable punishment for Mr. Hayashi. The Japanese Government informed Sir Robert Craigie that Mr. Hayashi was being brought back to Japan for trial. Everything would be done to prevent a recurrence of the incident, which was greatly regretted.

Mr. Keswick’s wounds are not serious, and he is expected to leave hospital soon.

A cablegram on January 25 stated that a meeting of the Shanghai Municipal Council was said to have been called to vote for an increase in taxation to cover the expense of a deficit and that uproar occurred, when a Japanese motion was overwhelmingly defeated.