London, May 26
The British Government was cons ction to protect British ship-Chinese waters from inter> ference, announced Mr. R. A. Butler, Under-Secretary of State for. Foreixn in the House of Com kong on Wednesday.
"The questions were addressed to the Kingswinford division of Staffordshire, Mr. Butler, in his reply. described the incident' and referred to, the protests made by. Sir Percy Noble, Commander-in-Chief of the China ation, and Sir Robert Craigie, Brit ish Ambassador in Tokyo.
The question of taking further action protect British shipping from such imerferenee, he added, was under consideration.
Mr. Henderson asked if the establishment of a blockade off the Chinese coast, which the Japanese were reported to be intending to institute, would not be quite contrary to the rules of international law.
Escorts Posi He further asked whether, If such blockade were established. a naval Cscort would be provided for British Ships in. Chinese waters to protect them from such unlawful interference.
Mr, Butler replied that it was in view of such rumours that the question of further protection for British shipping was at present receiving Urgent conskleration. He agreed with Mr. Henderson that such a blockade was contrary to the rules of inter national. law.
'Sit John Wardlaw Milne, Conservative member for the Kidderminster division of Worcestershire, said he did for wish to add to the Government's diMeulties in the Far East, but asked Wwhat Mr. "Butler meant' when he Aeclared that the boarding of the Ranpura was of a routine character.
He had never heard of an investiga tion of elreumstances, which included the stopping and searching of British shipping by a foreign, Power, being Aeseribed as "routine."
'What I said," Mr, Butler answered.' was that, in boarding the ship, no. attempt was made, to examine' the hnanifest oF cargo. The fact that the ship was boarded had received. the British Government's denunciation."
It-Commander R. T.-H. Fletcher. further action was contemplated by the British Government, in the nature retaliatory action or merely provid~ Jing Britsih ships with protection.
Mr. Butler. "I can make no further statement today. but 1 assure Commander Felcher that the Government takes a very serious view of this in= ident."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.