Evening star., 1939-06-23


Jour Chinese accused of implica-
ton In Staying of Chinese official
In Tientsin. Controversy has de-
Deloped into test OF Japan's pro-
gran, to establish ne1p order in
East Asia.
~ the Associated Press.
TIENTSIN, June 23.-Cecil Davis.
honorary agent in Tientsin for the
New Zealand government, asserted
tonight he had been slapped and
forced to undress by Japanese gen.
darmes, who are continuing their
searching practice begun 10 days
ago with blockade of the British and
French concessions.
United States Consul Frederick w.
Hinke earlier had made representa-
tions, which consulate attaches en-
phaSize was not formal protest,
against lnconveniences suffered by
Americans at the concession barri-
cades.
Stood Naked Is Minutes.
Mr.. Davis, British subject, yes
terday was not molested when two
groups were forced to strip for the
Japanese gendarmes. He said that
today, however, he had to stand
naked Is minutes while a dozen
foreign women passed the barrier
and walked through the shed where
he was detained.
Mr.. Davis said he objected to the
order to undress on the ground that
he was an official, whereupon a gen.
darme slapped him across the mouth
with his passport.
Mr.. Davis replied thanks" and
the gendarme slapped him again,
and then third time. The Jap
anese then summoned three COL
leagues and they forced the Briton
to strip.
At the British consulate general
1t was said no reply had been re-
ceived to series of protests made
to the Japanese since the blockade
started.
Indignities Charged.
The conduct of the gendarmes
has been a point of friction in the
Tientsin dispute. Great Britain
charged in a statement by the con-
sulate general that eight British
subjects had been forced to submit
to indignities, including stripping
and lengthy examination in full
view of Chinese coolies.
Another source of irritation has
been the electrically charged wire
with which Japanese surrounded
the isolated foreign areas. A Chi
nese coolie was found dead today,
his hand grasping the wire, not far
from American Marine barracks
outside the blockaded concessions.
japanese sentries guarding the
Japanese end of the International
Bridge between the French conces-
sion and japanese occupied territory
advanced several yards onto the
bridge during the night until they
almost rubbed elbows with French
and the Chinese police stationed at
the other end. French authorities
took no official notice of the change,
but French circles expressed resent
ment.
mus lar, the blockade has been
directed mainly at Britons, with
japanese apologizing for blockading
the French concession because it ad-
joins the British area.
Consulates Circularized.
Non-British foreigners passed the
barriers quickly today. All con-
sulates had received a form letter
from Japanese Consul General Shi-
genori Tashiro asking that their
nationals be advised to carry iden-
tif1cation cards when seeking to pass
barriers and to be more polite.
With the blockade now in its 10th
day, the food situation worsened.
British officials prepared to bring
supplies in their own boats from
Shanghai and elsewhere if neces-
sary.
Fresh milk was available, but meat
and vegetables were scarce. British
concession markets had allotments
of 100 pounds of meat, which was
IL i