Mr. Koki Hirota Refuses to Commit Himself on Issue Tokyo, Sept. 2.
Regarding rumours that the American freighter Wichita would be halted and searched, the Foreign Minister, Mr. Koki Hirota, to-day refused to comment regarding any particular third party vessel. It was not said that the Wichita would be searched, but it was indicated that all vessels must wait until they reach the. war zone before learning whether or not they will be intercepted.
The Wichita is en route from Balti lore. carrying a cargo of aeroplanes and barbed wire consigned for Shanghai, but has received instructions to proceed to Manila if Sino-Japanese hostilities are still under way when it reaches the Orient—United Press, Fleet London, Sept. 2 In view of recent attacks on British shipping, the destroyer strength of the Fleet in the western basin of the Mediterranean is to be reinforced. This decision was reached at a meeting of Ministers, over which the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Sir John Simon, presided, at the Foreign Office to-day, when' the current international situation both in the Far East and the Mediterranean was considered.
Arrangements have been made for a meeting of the Cabinet next week.
understood that the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlai will travel from Scotland specially preside.
The Ministerial conferences at the Foreign Office this morning and this afternoon lasted for over three hours altogether. The Ministers present, in addition ta Sir John Simon and the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, were the Lord Privy Seal, yer Havock is being made the occasion for a united demand by the Italian press for the recognition of belligerency to Gen. Francisco Franco, the Spanish Nationalist Com-
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