It was to be expected that this agitation, Lord Halifax continued, would cease as a result of the agreement now reached. Meanwhile, Baron Hiranuma (the Japanese Prime Minister) was reported to have said that they had fixed their policy and could control agitation not in accordance with that policy.
Lord Cecil, former Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, drew attention to certain remarks attributed to Baron Hiranuma and asked whether in view of these remarks, the British Government was prepared io say that they did not propose to reverse the policy hitherto pursued with reference to General Chiang Kai-shek, Lord Halifax, in reply, said he preferred not to be drawned into detailed comment on Baron Hiranuma's statement, in the absence of an official report, He recalled, however, the statement made in the House of Commons last week by Mr. Neville Chamberlain (the Prime Minister), in which it was stated with great clarity that it was impossible for Britain to reverse its policy at the dictation of any other foreign Power.
"To that position," Lord Halifax concluded, "the British Government unhesitatingly adhere."—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.