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THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 2, 1939
Page
LORD PLYMOUTH REPLIES TO LORD STRABOLGI Desires And Feelings Versus Practical Steps Hainan, Hong Kong And Pearl River Closure
London, To-day. "The difficulty in approaching this question is to give practical effect to any desires or feelings one might have," declared Lord Plymouth, one of the Under-Secretaries for Foreign Affairs, answering Lord Strabolgi in the House of Lords yesterday.
STORAGE OF WAR MATERIALS
Chicago, To-day, The storage of strategic mater, ials sufficient for at least a year was advocated by Mr. Louis John 800, Assistant Secretary of War, In a speech here yesterday-Ren-
ter.
made similar representations.
tish Government would be ready to consider them and enter into nego tiations with all other signatories regarding modifications and gestions.
sug-
** EXTRALITY ISSUE Similarly, the Government Was always ready to resume negotiations with the Chinese Government the subject of extra territoriality. or other similar questions when peace was restored.
on
A Note embodying these points was addressed to the Japanese Gov-. ernment on January 14, but so far the Japanese Government had "not
Lord Plymouth said the Govern-seen fit to return any reply" ment deplored the occurrence of Lord Plymouth said he had always Although he agreed with much of what Lord Stra- give the House any further in- Government was that no measures these outrages but he could not pointed out that the view of the bolgi had said, he doubted whether Lord Stra-formation. That matter was now such as some of those Lord Strabolgi bolgi had given serious thought to the actual Japanese authorities and Municipal in solving this difficulty or helping under discussion between the local had. described were really any use practicability of some of his suggestions. Council,
the situation unless they were to be effective measures.
con-
“NANKING” THREAT
After giving the House informa-ter) that its duration would not Referring to press reports that tion regarding recent events, in exceed the period required by mili- the reformed government at China, Lord Plymouth referred to tary needs, Lord Plymouth said Nanking had been compelled to
ALL AT SAME TIME. the action the British Govern- that although he was fully aware announce a "silent declaration of Strabolgi had described, such a
If measures of the kind ment was taking to protect British of the strategic or tactical
Lord interests in China, particularly sideration involved in these mat-Settlement and British and French were attempted, it was absolutely war" against the International economic sanctions of various kinds, 88 Hong Kong.
ters, it could not be said that there ships for aiding General Chiang essential that action should be taken He said the Pearl River was of were any really important British had not yet received any confirma- time. supreme importance to the trade of interests on the island.
Kai-shek, Lord Plymouth said they by all interested parties at the same Hong Kong.
The opening of this river to Bri- fish tade was provided for in the Anglo Chinese. Treaty of 1842.
·
tion of this from the British. Am In conclusion, Lord Plymouth said FRENCH POSITION
bassador, and was of opinion that he wanted to draw the attention of The position of the French Gov. they should await this before con- the House to the various ways in ernment was undoubtedly differ-sidering the question of making which the Government had assisted ent. The Treaty position of the representations in Tokyo.
the Chinese Government in its ex-
It was first closed to navigation French Government was based on It should be remembered in this tremely difficult position. by the Chinese authorities on Octo-the Chinese dissurance in 1897 re-connection that, the British Gov- ber 13 last year, and a protest was garding non-alienation, and se-rernment did not, any more than we had kept Hong Kong open as a made to them by the British Con-condly on the Franco-Japanese the Japanese Government, recog-means
Since the beginning of the war sul-General in Canton,
vise the "reformed government" at China. That channel could no Nanking, and any pronouncements longer be made use of when, Can- of communication with made, by that "government" need ton fell not be taken too seriously.
♪ In addition, we had built the road from Burma to the Chineso border,
Agreement of 1907.
We had no similar agreement “UNDER CONSIDERATION? with Japan, and the only treaty Since the occupation the Japan-bearing on the situation was the ese had maintained the closure, and Washington Nine-Power Treaty. the British Government had been Lord Plymouth said that Lord actively engaged in endeavouring Strabolgi contended that the action Dealing with the situation at
TIENTSIN POSITION to secure its reopening.
He Was sorry to say that these not have been taken with a View position, broadly speaking, was as on the part of the Japanese could Tientsin, Lord Plymouth said the efforts had not so far been effec- to threatening the position of the he described it last December. tive. The possibility of tulang Chinese Government but rather He added that the British Gov- further steps towards this objec that it must have been taken with ernment had made it clear to the tive was at present "under con- the intention of threatening or Japanese that there was no lack
sideration."!
Lord Plymouth added that in any event the British Government pro
posed to continue, as at present, to
do all in its power to secure Bri- tish trade and shipping in the oc- cupied areas of China from discri-
mination in favour of Japanese or any other interests.
in-
a
ers under the Export Guarantees CREDITS TO CHINA- We had more recently taken pow
guarantees more easily to China. Act which would enable us to give
that the general position was con- He could assure Lord Strabolgi giving anxiety to the French Gov-of co-operation on the part of the stantly "under consideration and ernment and ourselves,
THAT IS WHAT JAPAN SAYS prepared to arrest and hand over Lord Plymouth said he had been
Concession authorities, who were never lost sight of." It was difficult to pass judgment any person guilty of terrorism or asked if there was any possibility on that. He could only say the other criminal act provided always of bringing pressure to bear on actual reason given to us by the that adequate evidence of identi- the Japanese Government with a Japanese authorities was what he fication was produced and a prima view to bringing the war in China
facie case established:
to a apcedy end.
It would be difficult and errone-
In-
had quoted.-
Repeating what Mr. Arita had Generally, the Far Eastern said regarding the period required policy of the Government was CANTON CUSTOMS.
by military needs of the situation, based on the Ninte-Power Treaty, ous to say he thought there were Latest available information
Lord Plymouth observed: "That is and the Government therefore w prospects, of being able to achieve dicated that the Customs in Can a very vague phrase, I admit, but at some pains to make this clear to that object. The Government were ton, while it had not actually been
that is the position explained to the Japanese Government in the close and constant consultation brought under Japanese control,
us by the Japanese Government." Note addressed to them on January with the Powers concerned on mat- had been.'
-Router. subjected to
$14.
ters affecting their common certain
'measure of control SHANGHAI SITUATION
They could not recognise tercat with a view to securing a by the Japanese, as was the caso in the Shanghai Customs, and
Shanghai, Lord Plymouth said that or derogations of the provisions of just to both sides and would take number of Japanese nationals were
following the recrudescence of this Treaty which were brought all proper account of the interests boing added to the staff.
torrorist acts the Japanese aufication of its terms:
about by force or unilateral modi- of third parties. thorities put forward cortain sug- The Customs at Hoihow, on Hai-estions to the Municipal Council for more effective maintenance of
GOVERNMENTS STAND
-The Government had communicat law and order.
Lord Plymouth added that they ornments that they were rendy at ed to the Chinese and Japanese Gov It was largely due to the cour to watch tho situation closoly and was obsolete or that its provisions and would not hesitate to take
The Government was continuing could not agree that the Treaty all times to use their good offices, ago-and tenacity of Mr. Hooper, was prepared to afford the Council no longer met the situation except the necessary steps as soon the Deputy Commissioner at that such advice and support as might so far as the situation had been the moment. appeate appropriate. timo in charge of the Customs at from time to time be possible, altered by Japan in contravention Canton, that the Customs adminis- They had already drawn the at- of its terms. tration in that port -was held intact tention of the Japanese Govern The Government did not
must admit ~ that i throughout the attack on Canton acat to the fact that they were that treaties wore eternal,
doc and Its capture by the Japanese interested in the discussions now the Japanese Governmen
Turning to the situation. changes involving Infringemonts settlement, which "would be fair and
HAINAN SEIZURE
nan Island, had been "trented
same way.
the
After, recounting facta relating proceeding between the - Comcll other i̇signatory
to the occupation of Hainan Igland and the Japanese authorities in tive suggest
and quoting the statement of MF, Shanghai, and it was understood | böl Arita (the Japanese Foreign Minis- the United States Ambassader het
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