Evening star., 1939-08-03
Britain Ready
To Mediate in
Chinese War
japanese Warned
By HuIifux on
Hostile Acts
BY tie Associated Press.

LONDON, Aug. 3.-Foreign Secre-
tary Lord Halifax declared tonight
that Britain would be prepared to
use her good Offices IF and when
they could usefully be employed" TO
mediate the Chinese-Japanese con-
flict.
He made this statement in a for
eign affairs debate in the House of
Lords after he had given Japan an
indirect warning that anti-British
agitation in North China could only
worsen relations between Britain
and Japan with all the conse-
quences that that deterioration must
inevitably bring"
The foreign secretary said the
government intended to protect Brit
ish interests in China and to carry
out its obligations to third powers.
The TOXIC formula agreed to by
Britain July % as a basis for nego-
tiations on the Tientsin dispute, he
declared, indicated no change of
policy in the Far East He said
those who insisted it did ignore
both the plain terms of the formula
and the Interpretation of the for
mula that the government them
selves have placed upon it,
Debate Shifts to Lords.
The debate shifted to the Upper
House the attacks on the govern
ments insistence that Parliament
recess as usual during August and
September, period which many be-
lieve will bring international ten
sion.
In vigorous protest against the
recess, Liberal Lord Davies said
members of all parties shared the
feeling that the government might
make far-reaching decisions before
October 8, when Parliament is
scheduled to reassemble. He asked
that legislators be consulted before
such steps are taken.
Lord Davies declared there were
suspicious as to the governments
real intentions in negotiating with
Moscow for British French Soviet
mutual assistance pact and charged
that delays in reaching such an
agreement were the result of British
"dilatory tactics"
Storm Over Ad AdjOurnlnent.
A storm was raised in Commons
yesterday on the government ad-
journment motion. Between 80 and
40 Conservatives refused to vote
after Prime Minister Chamberlain
made the question one of confidence
in his government. He won, how
ever. by $50 to 1872.
Anti-appeasement circles expressed
fear that Parliament S failure to con-
stitute itself a watch dog on inter-
national policy during the August
September recess would result in
another Munich"
But as these opposition groups
viewed with alarm" the parallel
they drew between the present situa-
ton and events that preceded the
Munich dismemberment on Czecho-
Slovakia last September, Prime Min
lister Chamberlain went ahead with
the next step in his European policy
"a military mission to Moscow.
With Gen. Charles Huntziger, COM
mander of French troops in the Near
East, in London as probable liaison
officer, British and French general
stats arranged consultations on
plans for their talks with Soviet
Russian military men.
Departure Expected This Week.
1t was expected the British and
French missions would leave this
week end for Moscow. comparing
notes en- route. Each mission prob
ably will include about 20 advisory
experts on military and naval
matters.
Government circles continued
hopeful for an agreement soon on
definition of indirect aggression"
which still stood in the way of a
British-French-R Russian mutual as
sistance pact.
During House of Commons de-
bate yesterday, before Mr.. Cham
berlain won his vote of confidence,
Godfrey Mander, Liberal, put into
words the suspicious of the anti
appeasement group:
The Prime Minister'S attitude has
confirmed the worst fears of all
those who think that directly Par
lament is up Gecessed), there will
be a tremendous move in the direc-
ton of appeasement and that the
Prime Minister will do all in his
power to bring about a situation
which will place us in the gravest
danger"
The anti-appeasement group in
Commons included not only Liberals
and Laborites, but a group of Con-
servatives, members of Mr.. Cham
berlains own party. They sought
to have the house reassemble
August 81 for a one-day watch
dog" session.
Mr.. Chamberlain contended that
the government was ready for an
emergency and saying that the
members would be called back in
case of unexpected international
developments.
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