Evening star., 1939-06-19
British Seek Basis
OF Settlement With
Japan on 1ientsin
IN
Steps Token to Assure
! Concessions Food
Soys Chamberlain
BY the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press.
LONDON, June l9.-Prime Min
lister Chamberlain announced today
talks were being held simultaneously
in London and Toxic in an effort to
find a basis for settlement of the
Tientsin dispute
Mr.. Chamberlain told the House
Of Commons that Foreign Secretary
Viscount Halifax had conferred with
the japanese Ambassador and that
Sir Robert Leslie Craigie, British
Ambassador in Toxic. was trying TO
clarity the situation with the jap
anese government.
His majesty's government cannot
but believe that the Japanese gov
ernment share their own desire not
to widen the area of disagreement
or to render more acute an already
difficult situation" Mr.. Chamberlain
said.
AT the same time they are fully
alive to the reaction to the present
dispute on the position of the Brit
ish and International Settlements in
China"
In this connection Mr.. Chamber
lain said Britain was maintaining
close touch with the French and
American governments"
Larger Issues Introduced.
The British japanese tension at
Tientsin developed with refusal of
authorities of the British concession
to hand over to japanese officials
four alleged terrorists. This was
followed by blockade of the
British and French concessions and
increased demands by the japanese.
Mr.. Chamberlain said the original
demand for the alleged terrorists
had been confused by the intro
duction of larger issues of general
policy but he added it still was
hoped a local settlement would be
possible.
The Tientsin incident is consid-
cred challenge to British inter-
ests and prestige in the Far East.
This challenge was described yes
terday in a speech by Admiral of
the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes, retired.
as "a declaration of war against
the British Empire, with Germany
and Italy supporting Japan"
Former Foreign Secretary An
thony Eden asked the prime min
lister whether it had been made
clear to all concerned that it is the
intention of his majesty's govern
ment to ensure that supplies of food
stuf1s' to British subjects in Tient-
sin would reach them.
Mr.. Chamberlain replied: "Yes,
sir, we are making inquiries into
that point and shall take whatever
steps may be necessary to ensure
that food will reach them"
Reply on Killing Awaited.
Richard Austen Butler, under
secretary for foreign affairs, said
In reply to question that the
British government did not recog-
nize the right of the Japanese to
arrest and detain British subjects
and that the Japanese government
had been left in no doubt of this.
He said the government still was
awaiting reply to representations
concerning the fatal bayoneting of
r. M. Tinker, cotton mill employe,
in the Shanghai section, Pootung,
on June 6.
Japanese marines entered the mill
during strike dispute. Tinker was
stabbed and struck on the head
with rifle butt. He died the fol-
lowing day. japanese charged he
had threatened to shoot Japanese
officer.
Statement on Soviet Talks.
The Prime Minister made a brief
statement on negotiations now going
on in Moscow on proposed British
French Russian mutual assistance
pact, expressing belief that William
Strang. foreign Office negotiator,
would be able to handle the situa-
ton without further instructions
from London.
He acknowledged that there are
several other points" of difference
in addition to the Russian desire
that guarantees be extended to the
Baltic states and the British desire
to avoid naming these states spe-
cifically-since they are themselves
unwilling to accept an outright Brit
h-Russian pledge of help.
Mr.. Butler told the House Sir
Neville Henderson, Ambassador to
Berlin, had been instructed to ask
Germany to authorize stationing OF
a British Consul General in Prague
for practical reasons" such as Is
suing visas for refugees.