London, Nov. 15.
'The British Ambassador In Tokyo. Sir "Robert Craigie, "has been Instructed 1o lodge inquiries with the' Japanese Government concerning the satement made on November li by Gen. Iwane Matsui, Commander-in-Chief of "the Japanese forees in the Shanghai ares, on his attitude towards the International Settlement.
This reply was given in the House of Commons to-day" by Viscount Cranborne, Under-Secretary of State: for Foreign Affairs, in answer to Question put by Sir Perey Harris. Bart., Opposition Liberal member for the Zouth-west division of Bethnal Green.
Sir Perey based his question on 9 report of the interview given by Gen. Matsui to representatives of foreign news agencies in Shanghai on November lomicial confirmation of the report question and that, in any case, Japat had already assured His Majesty's Government of her intention to respect British rights and interests in China.
Gen. Matsui, it is recalled, virtually accused the Settlement and. French Concession authorities of a breach of neutrality, and eritielzed foreign jlals in Shanghai with whom, he said, he could not accomplish the cooperation he had anticipated when he left Japan, He implied that both the Settle ment and French Concession authors ties had been guilty of a breach of neutrality, and added:
"I have no intention of taking advantage of the present state of affairs to take the Settlement under my control, but as things are going on present there may be occasions: when we cannot work in' ¢o" operation."—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.