Viscount Cranborne Answers Many Questions in the Commons: Mr. Roosevelt Stays at His Desk London, July 16, HE disturbing events in China are being watched with the closest interest in London, where numerous questions on the crisis in North China were asked in the House of Commons to-day.
The Governments of Great Britain, France and the United States are continuing their exchange of information of developments. Both Britain and the United States have independently informed the Japanese Government that, in their view, the original clash was on too small a scale to warrant an extension of the conflict, Any attempt either by the Chinese or Japanese to magnify the incident into an affair of national prestige, it is stated would be a matter of the gravest concern to Britain.
The latest reports received in London from Tokyo.are not reassuring, and it is feared that General Chiang Kai-shek may be forced by Chinese public opinion into taking an unduly strong line.
On the other hand, Japanese assurances that the incidents were not premeditated are accepted in London, as is also the view that Tokyo is not really interested in delaying a settlement.
The British Government, therefore, sees no reason to make an offer of mediation.
Viscount Cranborne, Under-Sec-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.