The British Government would continue to rely on the specific assurance of respect for the principle of equal opportunity given to the British Ambassador in Tokyo, Sir Robert Craigie, on.more than one Occasion by responsible members of the Japanese Government. -This reply was made in the House of Commons today by Mr. R. A. Butler, Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to questions by Sir John Wardlaw-Milne, Conservative member for the Kidderminster division of Worcestershire, who asked:
Lord Elibank declared that one of the principal reasons for the capture of Canton was that "it created the gravest danger to, Hongkong trade.
Lord Elibank wanted to know what the Government proposed to do to carry out Lord Halifax statement of July 27, that if Japanese action was taken in order to defend their interests, then "we had the same rights with regard to our interests."
'Nobody in Great Britain had any idea of retaliation by force of arms, but there were many who believed that if "we retaliated in an economic' sense, we would make some impression on the Japanese:
Lord Elibank said that he had previously suggested the denunciation of the Anglo-Japanese trade agreement! of 1911, with regard to Japan's trade with "the British colonies.
A. second way, he declared, would be to close Hongkong to all Japanese ships and cargoes between Japan and South China, and thus "effectively block Japanese trade with Canton."
Another way.would be the closure of all Indian and Straits Settlements ports to Japanese coastal shipping.
1. Whether the British Government had made representations to the Japanese Government on the failure of Mr. H. Arita, the Japanese Foreign Minister, on asu ofice, to give foreign Ambassadors the customary assurance that Japan would adhere to the Open Door 2. Whether the British Government had consulted the United: States and French Governments on this important matter, The British Government, Mr. But-Jer. added, continued to maintain close touch with other interested governments.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.