Evening star., 1933-02-27
BRITISH IMPOSE EMBARGO.
Ban on Further Arms Shipments to Far
East Decided on.

LONDON, February q (P).-Sir John
simon, foreign secretary, announced in
the House of Commons today that
pending an international solution of the
Far East arms embargo question the
British government would not authorize
the issuance of licenses for export either
to China or Japan of any arms or war
munitions.
In making this announcement in an
arms embargo debate the opposition
had initiated, Sir John said that pend
ing international consideration Of the
question the government believed any
effort and any sacrifice were worth
making which would reduce the risk
OF widening the field of the Far East
ern conflict or lead to a prolongation
of bloodshed.
The foreign secretary said:
The government believes that the
general sense Of the country at this
| time would be opposed to a decision
which by freely permitting the dis
patch OF arms would help to fonent
trouble and increase slaughter"
Excepts Existing Contracts.
He added that excepting contracts
already entered into, which must be
respected, the government had decided
that from today no further licenses for
| exports should be issued. This was, of
course, pending an opportunity for an
international solution of the problem
such as he hoped for.
Sir John had previously insisted that
an embargo against Japan such as the
opposition leader, George Lansbury,
Labor party leader, had asked could
only be put into effective operation
through international agreement as it
was impossible for one country to
olnerentlate between combatantS.
| He favored further effort at con-
citation, however, before any drastic
measure of this sort was contemplated.
Lansbury Assails Japan.
Lansbury had demanded an embargo
on arms and all other materials and
measures that would aid Japan lin her
cruel and cynical war on China
The Labor party leader, however, in q
speech opening the Far Eastern debate,
said the British government should
make 'one more effort to bring the
japanese government to reason"
| The foreign secretary promptly re-
piled with stand for a general con-
citation effort
Cancellation was the first task Of
! all, declared Sir John, adding, but
should it unhappily fail the view
unanimously taken by the Leagues own
commission should be taken"
1t is impossible to exclude the pos
sibility of war between Japan and
Russia, Mr.. Lansbury said, but there is
an inclination to regard as a practical
policy of the idea that Japan is holding
back the forces of Communism.
Considerable Interruption.
AS he went on he was subjected to
considerable interruption and laughter
from the Conservative benches.
Undeterred, he shot out the dictum
that unless Great Britain is prepared
to stand by the League of Nations cove
nant, violated by Japan" she should
resign from the League.
Japan should be told that since she
has broken her pledged word we shall
decline to give her the least help" he
declared.
He expressed belief that the Amer
| ican Government will do what it thinks
| right with respect to the proposed en-
barge and added, II have no doubt that
its decision will be on the right lines"
He demanded an immediate embargo
on the shipment of arms from this
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