Tokyo, June 15.
An ominous warning that Japan's altitude toward Britain in" China Would only become stiffer if Britain attempts to retaliate against. the Japanese blockade of the British Concession in Tientsin was sounded in Tapanese Foreign Office circles here today.
Japanese Foreign Ofice sources said the situation at, Tientsin would "only become worse" if Britain took retaliatory moastires agarist Japan elsewhere in the world.
"The Japanese warning was sound-following reports from London that the British Cabinet had request ed the Board of Trade to investigate possible methods of retaliating against Japan.
Foreign OMce circles here om= phasized today that the action being, Taken by the Japanese Army in Tientsin' was directed only against Britain. They said American' and French consuls in Tientsin had been informed by the Japanese consti! that the interests. of their countries would be. respected.
The statement was regarded in some foremen circles ax an indication that Japan hopes to attack the treaty rights of third Power nations one by tone in an effort to avert parallel British, French and American relalia~ tion against Japan.
Meanwhile, the Japanese navy spokesman said the Japanese navy not. involved. inthe Tientsin ccrisie hut was prepared t0 take any fiction siecessary to support Japanese authoritier on the spot.
spokesman also reviewed the Kulanast situation and said residents there had been inconvenienced cause "ineMeient ennduct™ by the Municipal Council had deadlocked negotiations an Japan's demands for contract of the foreign aren.
The spokesman also warned that foreigners in Chuneking and Chengtt: should demand the removal of Chi-here defences from the vicinity of foreign property "in order to avoid friction."
Me said recent Japanese raids on Chungking and Chenetu showed that Chinese defences, particulary antic aircraft batteries, had been establish ede near ax possible to forei
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.
