Paris, Feb. 11. T is authoritatively understood that the British and French Governments have instructed their Ambassadors in Tokyo to approach the Japanese Government to ask for the reasons, character and duration, of the occupation of Hainan Island. It was stated that M. Charles Arsene-Henry, French Ambassador to Japan, has received instructions to this effect.
The British and French Governments are keeping in close touch with each other, and the interview yesterday between the French Foreign Minister, M. Georges Bonnet, and Sir Eric Phipps, the British Ambassador to France, dealt exclusively with the Hainan problem.
The French Government are expected to declare through their envoy that Japan's renunciation of aims upon Hainan was expected as a counterpart to the friendly measures taken by France io prevent the smuggling of arms to China through Indo-China, it was understood. Both France and Japan agreed to refrain from any steps that might be detrimental to the other party insofar as Hainan was concerned, observers recalled.
Authoritative quarters expressed the opinion that the occupation of the island was carried out from fears of an alleged transit of arms to China through Indo-China, It was stressed that France always maintained a strictly correct attitude and even went beyond her obligations.
These circles also believed that the occupation of the island may, in a way, be connected with the French Government's reservations made
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