Efficiency of Force Impaired Unless Recurrence Prevented: New Note To Tokyo IHE Chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council has lodged a strong protest with the Japanese Consul-General with reference to the Brenan Road incident in which a Foreign Probationary Sergeant was involved.
In the letter of protest it is pointed out that whether or not there was f misunderstanding, or as has been alleged, but denied by the Probationary Sergeant, even some provocation, nothing can excuse what followed.
Reference is also made to the ill-treatment of Superintendent J. Sinclair and Inspector C. Bennett in regard to which a previous protest was lodged and it is pointed out that unless steps are taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents the confidence and efficiency of the police will inevitably be impaired.
A request is made that tHe Council be notified of the steps which it is proposed to take.
It is understood that the Council intends to give the fullest possible support to the Shanghai Municipal Police.
London, Jan. 8."
A new protest note is to be hanger ie the Japanese Government by (po British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, concerning yesterday's series of incidents in Shanghai, it is learnt here in government circles. The incidents concerned the invasion of the International Settlement by Japanese troops and the assaults on British members of the Municipal Police. b It is declared that a high degree of indignation prevails in these goyernment circles, but that the report from the British Counsellor of the Embassy in Shanghai. will be awaited before the text of the note is drawn up.
Newspapers express the "opinion that the note of protest will be sent at the beginning of next week and that it will be sharper in tone (ep any previous note.'
The latest Shanghai incidents which British members of (he Municipal police force were assaulted and manhandled by Japanese treeys have aroused an unusual amount of indignation in the press and among the general public, where is generally asserted that the tension is now almost at a breaking point.
The "Daily Telegraph" attaches importance to the fact that Japanese troops showed no regard for tke boundaries of the International Settlement and in spite of repeated assurances on part of the Japanese Government of its earnest desire to avoid amy action liable to give offence to foreign groups, the Japan-military fortes too often prefer (0 take matters into their own hands. disregarding both the wishes of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.