London, Dec. 8, The Association of British Cha of Commerce, including London, Manchester,. Birmingham, Glasgow, ete, are understood to be preparing careful statement of the situation of British "interests in China with a view to sending a deputation to Mr. Neville Chamberlain, the. Prime Minister, and Lord Halifax, the' Foreign Secretary.
Far Eastern circles are of.the opinion that Lord Plymouth's speech in the House of Lords yesterday shows distinctly that a more satisfactory attitude has been adopted by the British Government than previously.
'While regret is expressed that more positive action' is not yet indicated, Lord Plymouth's unequivocal d. claration of the Government's position in connection with the Nine-Power Treaty and the Open Door is universally welcomed.
It is pointed out that Japan's claims in this respect involve a fundamental issue, on which no compromise is possible without a betrayal of China and the sacrifice of her vital interests.
The China Committee of the House of Commons, at a meeting last evening, agreed to continue to press the Government to take all possible means to resist encroachments on British rights in China. The general feeling is that help ought to be given to China wherever feasible—Reuter. and hardened by the Ethiopian campaign.
French forces include the Foreign Legion and colonial infantry who are veterans of the Moroccan campaigns against the Riffs.
The French claimed that Tunisia's agriculture would prove a great advantage to the French if hostilities developed, as on the Italian side of the line the country is nothing but sandy waste. In a blockade, the Italians would soon face starvation.
Neutral observers pointed out that Italy was probably superior in air strength, owing to the proximity of her great Sicilian and Libyan airfields.
Meanwhile in Tunis the Arabs and Berbers resented the Fascist demands for the return of Tunisia to Italy, although the Arabs dislike French rule—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.