Evening star., 1937-12-22
HONG KONG FORCE
TOBE REINFORCED
Great Britain Sends BattaI-
ion and 10th Note of
Protest to Japan.
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, Dec. 22.-The war office
announced today that the British gar
rison at Hong Kong would be strength
ened as the government dispatched the
sixteenth protest it has made to Japan
since the outbreak of the Far Eastern
conflict.
Sir Robert Leslie Craigie, British
Ambassador to Toxic, was instructed to
protest Japanese attack on and
seizure of Chinese customs vessel in
territorial waters off the British coll
ony of Hong Kong, December IL.
The double action followed 2h-
hour review of the Oriental situation
by the cabinet this morning, and yes
terday's assertion from Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain in the House of
Commons that Japan should not be
deceived by British patience.
The troopship Dunera prepared to
leave Southampton to take aboard the
second battalion Of Royal Scots at
Bombay who will 60 to Hong Kong,
lying off Canton in South China,
which reports have indicated the
japanese will attack shortly with
major offensive The Royal Scots
we're scheduled to reach their new post
January 20.
Note Demands RESPECT.
The protest also requested assur-
ances that Japan would respect Hong
Kong and its territorial waters in
the future.
A Japanese vessel was reported to
have fired on a Chinese boat from
outside the territorial waters. When
the boat was beached, japanese
sailors entered the territorial waters
by motor boats and towed the vessel
away.
The Ambassador was told to ask
that Japan's naval forces be instructed
strictly to respect the British port
henceforth.
The government is apprehens;ve
over the southwark turn of the
Chinese-Japanese hoStilities which en-
danger the rich crown colony.
The government announced in April
it planned to spend $40,000,000 to
strengthen Hong Kong's defenses.
The cabinet also was believed to
have approved preliminary plans for
sending more warships to the Far
East if developments should warrant
such move. The admiralty was un-
derstood to have advised that mini
mum defense requirements in the
Orient demanded dispatch of six cap
ital ships to Chinese waters.
Britain already has "a naval units
in the Far East.
Cabinet Reaches Decision.
At its last session before the Christ
mas holidays the cabinet was UNDER
stood to have decided what steps
should be taken in the event of further
incidents in China.
Meanwhile, the governments atti-
tude was to await proof of Japan's
determination and ability to prevent
these incidents in the Orient and at
the same time to keep in close contact
with Washington.
Fresh from the cabinet meeting,
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden told
the House Of Commons that the pos
sible spread of hostilities in Kwang-
tung Province, in South China, was
being carefully watched"
He gave assurance that "all possible
protection is being and will be afforded
to our trade interests in South China"
First Lord Of the Admiralty Alfred
Duff Cooper indicated, in response to
question, that the British Navy was
ready for whatever contingency might
arise.
Consider Defense Methods,
Meanwhile. the British cabinet, re-
assured by President Roosevelt's new
statement on foreign policy, considered
possible strong defense measures for
the empires Far East interests and
possessions.
The Presidents message to former
Gov. ALI M. Landon of Kansas saying
the United States owed some measure
of cooperation and even leadership"
in world affairs took precedence In the
British press over Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain's address in Com
mons
Britain,s desire for friendship and
cooperation with the United States
was one Of the outstanding features
OF yesterdays Commons session, in
which Chamberlain cautioned Japan
against being deceived by British
patience over infringement Of British
rights.
French to Cooperate.
Foreign Secretary Eden told the
cabinet that he had been assured Of
French cooperation in the Mediter-
ranean In order to relieve some Of the
British ships on duty there.
France also was reported 10 have
offered to let British ships use Indo-