Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-07-18
Britain Offers
Good Offices 70
End China War
Churchill Defends
Burma Accord in
Struggle for Life
BY the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 18.-Prime Min
lister Churchill today proffered the
good Offices of Great Britain to end
the three year-old Chinese japanese
war by peaceful means alone.
He told the House of Commons
that Britain concluded an accord
with Japan for closing the Burma
road against war supplies for China
because she was bound to take note
Of the dominant fact" that Britain
is engaged in a "life-and- death
struggle"
Britain has no desire, he said. to
interfere with the legitimate aims
of either China or Japan.
Great Britain is not unmindful Of
her obligations to China, the Prime
Minister told the House of Commons.
but she must, in view of her present
struggle, have regard for the present
world situation.
First British Disclosure.
The Prime Minister made the
first formal British disclosure of the
accord which provides not only for
closing the Burma road but also
accedes to Japans request to stop
war materials and certain other
goods from reaching China via
Hong Kong, British crown colony.
The exigencies of the present sit
uation, he went on, compelled the
British government to make the
Burma accord with Japan as
temporary arrangement, in the
hope that the time so gained may
lead to solution just and equitable
to BOTH"
Emphasizing the grave character
of Britain's position. he asked all
ministers whose duties are init
mately connected with the conduct
of the war" to sleep at their Offices.
THE reasons for this are suffi-
GENTLY obvious" he asserted.
Questioned by Hore- Belisha.
Asked by former War Secretary
Leslie Hore-Belisha whether he was
satisfied the Burma road concession
would secure Japan's good will and
whether the United States and So
Wet Russia had been consulted, Mr..
Churchill replied:
Il can give no such assurance.
do not know at all. think that all
that happens to us in the Far East
is very much likely to be Influenced
by what happens over here, to
which our attention at the moment
must be directed.
Naturally we have made sure
that what we have done has not
been done without taking into full
consideration the attitude of the
two very important great powers
mentioned"
In a question period, he said the
government of Burma agreed to the
suspension for three months Of
transport of ammunition, gasoline,
trucks and railway material and
the same categories would be pro-
hibited from transit through Hong
Kong.
He asserted the arrangement had
been made to ease tension growing
out of japanese complaints, but said
that ito agree to, the permanent
closure of the route would be to
default from our obligations as a
neutral, friendly power to China"
Want No Far East Quarrel.
Mr.. Churchill insisted that I'VE
wish for no quarrel with any nation
in the Far East" that Britain de-
sired ito see Chinese status and in
tegrity preserved" and that I'VE
wish to see Japan attain that state
of prosperity which will insure to
her population the welfare and eco
nomic security which every Jap
anese desires"
Specifically. Mr.. Churchill said.
Britain is ready to offer our coll
laboration and our contribution" to
the attainment of the aims of both
China and Japan. but it must be
clear that if they are to be at
tanned it must be by process Of
peace and Cancellation and not by
war or threat of war"
I'VE have persistently asserted
our desire to see assured to China a
free and independent future and
we have as frequently expressed
our desire to improve our relations
with Japan" he said.
What We have therefore made is
a temporary arrangement in the
hope that the time so gained may
lead to solution just and equitable
to both"
Willing to Negotiate.
1--WE desire to see Chinese status
and integrity preserved. and, as was
indicated in our note of January IA,
1888, we are ready to negotiate with
the Chinese government, after the
conclusion of peace, the abolition of
extraterritorial rights, the rendition
Of concessions and the reversion Of
treaties on the basis Of reciprocity
and equality.
I'VE wish to see Japan attain
that state of prosperity which will
insure to her population the welfare
and economic security which every
Japanese naturally desires"
Mr.. Churchill said Britain was
prepared to offer "our collaboration
and our contribution" to the at
tainment of the aims of both China
and Japan, but 1t must be clear
that If they are to be attained it
must be by process of peace and
Cancellation and not by war or
threat of war;
In answer to questions in the
House of Commons, he declared
that Britain had no desire to i'm
pose a peace on China.
To a request for full dress debate
on Far Eastern questions he replied
that if nai0hf be ARRANGED affar f,axk