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STRONG
BRITAIN
House Of Lords Discusses Far East
London, To-day.
Initiating the debate on foreign affairs in the House of Lords yesterday, Lord Snell (Labour) de- clared that the Prime Minister appeared to dis- play irritation and petulance towards those seeking information which would be appro- priate in a vain and ample spinster unsuccess- fully trying to slim.
THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 4, 1989.
LINE BY URGED
BLOCKADE IN SOUTH CHINA BEING TIGHTENED
Tokyo, Torlay.
Foreign reports of the large-scale withdrawal of Ja-
panese troops from Central China were categorically de- nied by the Japanese military spokesman here yesterday.
The spokesman added that the blockade of Central and South China was being effec- tively tightened.-Reuter.
necessity of supporting the Chinese currency which at present WaH û vital point in the Sino-Japanese struggle.
The difficulties in the Far East had largely arisen from the strange duality of government in Japan. Unhappily, Japanese statesmen were frequently overruled by the gener- als, and the generals were committed by their junior officers.
There was no reason why the British Empire should allow its po licy to be affected by the vehem- ence and violence of colonels and majors in the Japanese_army.
JAPANESE DISAPPOINTMENT
There was every reason to believe that the Japanese army was bitter- ly disappointed in its military efforts to secure possession of China.
After a period of two years, he understood, there was a feeling of anger, resentment and fear, as of a man who finds himself sinking slowly in quicksands.
Lord Snell said they worked more or less in.twi- light. Apart from a dribble of somewhat re- luctant information from the Government bench, they had to rely on the newspapers. Lord Snell asked the Foreign Secretary for an in- terpretation of the Tokyo formula and an as- surance that the Government's policy towards away. No reasonable man can some scapegoat and the British Em- China would not be changed and that the Gov-doubt that that would be the re-pire was being made the scapegoat. ernment would continue to support the Chinese sult. The moment the Japanese
currency.
Referring to Russia, Lord Snell mind as to what that policy really said the situation appeared tinuously disappointing.
con- was.
He was not going to assume that Britain alone was responsible, but he could not help noticing the speed with which the Tokyo formula had been arranged compared with the exasperating delays in Moscow.
LORD CECIL
Lord Cecil said he wished the Government would give a more specific and clearer explanation of our Far Eastern policy.
Mr. Chamberlain's statement, he added, had left a little doubt in his
OFF THE RECORD
"The Three Bares"
Lord Cecil maintained that the Government should demonstrate that they were not afraid of Ja- panese retallation.
*....
"I recognise that for us to face a possible naval attack on our possessions in the Far East would be awkward, but that is a pos- sibility which you must consider if there is a Japanese victory in China.-
REED
US NEXT
"In the latter event the whole of our possessions would be swept
By ED REFD.
"Relax, Ang---
not a stick-up -- it's Doc Kelly!
Here's Luck
have destroyed China they will certainly turn and destroy us."
Referring to his own experiences with Japanese diplomacy, Lord Cecil said he had found that every concession made to Japan simply invited further demands.
The Japanese militarists felt that they must vent those feelings on
not
Lord Samuel referred to the two "most significant" actions taken by the United States, "animated only by her own economic interests in the Far East but by what she the conceived to be her duty to world at large."
These were the removal of the He was not very much encour-fleet from the Atlantic to the Paci- aged by Mr. Chamberlain's Com- fic and the abrogation of the com- mons reference to "some just and mercial treaty with Japan. equitable settlement of the Sino- Japanese struggle."
It looked to him as if there was a tendency on the Government's part to put China and Japan on equal terms in connection with this struggle.
POLITICAL OBJECT Referring to the most recent of these actions, Lord Samuel said there was no reason to suppose that it had been taken for any-purely commercial reason. Unquestionably it was intended to have political NO JUSTIFICATION
significance. He believed the Japanese inva- In those circumstances the Bri- sion to be one of the least justi- |tish Government might be encour- fiable events that had ever occur-aged to refuse to adopt any policy red in the history of the world. of mere surrender to pressure.
It had been asserted that the first
One consideration that should be object of the Japanese was to dom-prominently in the minds of the inate China and secondly Asia, and British Government was the fact to exclude all European nations that Australia had the largest in- and individuals in any part or terest of all in the Pacific question trade in Asia.
and particularly our relations with Japan.
One could not help noticing the curious resemblance between this policy of the Japanese military party and the policy of the present German regime.
AUSTRALIAN INFLUENCE There was no doubt that the in- terests of, Australia played an im- portant part in influencing the mind of the home Government. at the time of the Manchurian inci- dent.
This was partly accounted for by the fact that the Japanese army was trained by Germans, who not only gave them their military skill He trusted the Government and but their views on "political and people of Australia would recog- international affairs.
nise that a policy of constant re- Lord Cecil hoped Lord Halifax treat was not one which was likely would tell the House what parallel to succeed in the long run, or one step the Government thought of consistent with the dignity or the taking in reference to the United interests of the British Empire. States notice of abrogation of the treaty of 1911 with Japan.
TANEMBARGO URGED ::
Lord Davies (Liberal), supported the previous speakers. The maid we should.
port:
Chinese Government in every and if
ry repatriate Fonfding in the
Lord Samuel welcomed, the fact that the Government had taken steps to reinforce Singapore and he trusted that if the Tokyo con ference should not suc
panes
Gov.
EWO BEER