Evening star., 1939-01-16

United States and Great Brit
ain haze stood resolutely against
Japan's auowed intention to
nullity the "open door" in China,
guaranteed by the Nine-Po1Oer
Treaty OF 1922. October 6 Secre-
tary of State Hull addressed
strong note to Toxic government
protesting attempts to force for
eign interests out of China. This
aDas followed later in year by a
"tna" note stating the Amer
ican position on treaty rights in
China.
BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, Jan. 16.-The United
States. Great Britain and France
were firmly allied today in a mu-
tual stand against recognizing ia
pans changes by force" in China.
Just as Prime Minister Chamber
lain return from what many observ-
ers called his fruitless talks in Rome
with Premier Mussolini, the British
forign Office yesterday released the
text OF its strongest note to Toxic
since the Chinese-Japanese conflict
broke out.
The communication resembled the
one sent by the United States on
October 6 charging "unwar1 anted
interference" with American rights
IN China and asking the japanese
government to implement its assur-
ances already given with regard to
the maintenance of the open door
and non-interference with American
rights"
France, informed persons said,
was expected to follow in the foot
steps OF the other two democracies
with a similar note, as a signatory
OF the 1922 pact in which Japan,
the United States, Great Britain,
France, Italy, Belgium, China. Por-
tugal and the Netherlands pledged
respect for Chinese territorial in
tegrity and maintenance of the open
door for trade.
Can't Reconcile Assertions.
The British note. handed to the
Toxic government Saturday by Sir
Robert L. Craigie, British Ambas-
sador. said in part:
His majesty's government are at
a loss to understand how former
japanese premier) Prince Konoye S
assurance that Japan seeks no terri
tory and respects the sovereignty of
China can be reconciled with the
declared intention of the Japanese
government to compel the Chinese
people by force of arms to accept
conditions involving surrender of
their political economic and cul-
tural life to Japanese control, in
definite maintenance in China of
considerable Japanese garrisons and
virtual detachment from China OF
territory in Inner Mongolia.
For their part, his majesty's gov
ernment desire to make it clear that
they are not prepared to accept or to
recognize changes of the nature in
dicated which are brought about by
force.
They intend to adhere to the
principles of the nine-power treaty
and cannot agree to unilateral modi-
flcation of its terms.
They would point out that, until
the outbreak of the present hostili-
ties, the beneficial effects which the
treaty was expected to produce were
steadily being realized.
The Chinese people were main
tanning and developing for them
selves an effective and stable gov
ernment and the principle of equal
opportunity for commerce and in
dustry of all nations was bringing
prosperity to China and to her in
ternational trade.
His majesty's government there
fore cannot agree as suggested in
Japan that the treaty is obsolete or
that its provisions no longer meet
the situation, except in so far as the
situation has been altered by Japan
in contravention Of its terms.
While, however. his ma jesty's
government maintain that modi-
fication cannot be effected unilat-
orally and must be by negotiation
between all the signatories, they
do not contend that treaties are
eternal
If, therefore. the Japanese gov
ernment have any constructive
suggestions to make regarding mod
ification of any Of the multilateral
agreements relating to China, his
majesty's government for their
part will be ready TO consider them.
In the meantime, his rNajesty's S
government reserve all their rights
under existing treaties
Cabinet Meets Wednesday.
Mr.. Chamberlain conferred today
with his close advisers prior to q
full cabinet meeting Wednesday
when he is to report on his Rome
talks.
He also was drafting a statement
of his foreign policy in preparation
for the reassembling of Parliament
January 81.
The Spanish civil war headed the
many problems facing the Prime
Minister. Some British quarters,
especially worried about the posi-
ton Of British Gibraltar, felt con-
Germ over warning to democracies
by Premier Mussolini to keep hands
of" Spain. Should Insurgent Gen.
eralissimo Franco win in Spain Fas-
cist guns would command the vital
Gibraltar gateway to the Mediter-
ranean.
Mr.. Chamberlain and Mussolini
exchanged kilograms Of apprecia-
ton.
The Briton wired Mussolini:
Il cannot leave Italy without ex-
pressing to you personally my warm
est thanks and deep appreciation
for the welcome extended to me
not only in Rome, but throughout
Italy.
These feelings are shared by
Lord Halifax Foreign Minister Wis
count Halifax, and together we re-
turn to England strengthened in our
convictions as regards Anglo Italian
friendship and in our hope for the
maintenance of peace"
MuSSOlini renlied.