BRITISH TROOPS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21188, 10 August 1940, Page 8

BRITISH TROOPS

WITHDRAWAL FROM CHINA FOR SERVICE ELSEWHERE UNITED STATES INFORMED (United Press Assn.—Eiee. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Aug. 9 The War Office announces this morning that British troops in Shanghai and North China are being withdrawn for service elsewhere. The troops concerned number 1500. This action has been under consideration for some time. It is authoritatively stated that the withdrawal of British troops from Shanghai and North China has been under the Government’s consideration since the outbreak of the war. The original purpose of the force was to protect British lives and property at Shanghai from Chinese violence, but it lost practical significance as a result of the SinoJapanese war. The Japanese and American Governments have been notified. SHANGHAI, August 9 The British Army announced: “The British troops at present stationed in Shanghai and North China are being withdrawn for service elsewhere.” United States Informed It is stated on reliable authority that the British informed the United States at the end of June of her intention to withdraw the troops. It refrained from asking the United States to patrol British areas, in order to avoid embarrassing the United States. The Japanese Embassy spokesman said: “There is no special reaction to the withdrawal of the British troops.” He pointed out that Japan requested on the outbreak of the war that troops of the belligerents be withdrawn, since their presence might cause an untoward incident and involve Japan, thus affecting her noninvolvement policy. “We expect and hope that other troops will also be withdrawn,” he said. The majority of the Italian forces in Shanghai have been withdrawn, leaving a very small garrison of marines. Most of the French troops sailed for Indo-China in December. TOKIO, August 9 The Foreign Office announced that a member of the British Embassy visited the Foreign Minister and handed him a British Note concerning the withdrawal of the garrisons of Shanghai, Peking and Tientsin. Britain reserves all rights under the Peking Protocol of September 7, 1901, until the said protocol be i amended or abrogated by agreements between the Powers concerned. War Advocated The Rightist East Asia Association passed a resolution which it sent to the Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, and the Foreign Minister, Mr Matsuoka, demanding an immediate declaration of war on Britain as retaliation for the British arrests of Japanese.