Hongkong, June 28, The Japanese Consul-General in Swatow, Mr, Matsudaira, has rejected the British request that the entry of foreign shipping into Swatow be permitted, according to Japanese reports.
Mr. Matsudaira is said to have informed the British Consul-General, Mr, C. R. Lee, that no entry of foreign shipping into Swatow harbour will be allowed for the time being due to the necessity of "maintaining peace and order."
At the same time, he is reported te have drawn attention to the "unfriendly attitude of the British authorities in connection with Japanese military operations in South China.
It is understood that the British moval authorities intend to provide escorts for foreign merchantmen proceeding to Swatow in the event of the Japanese actually attempting to prevent entry into Swatow har-hour.
Two British steamers, the Seistan and the Kwangtung, are at present lying outside Swatow. British naval authorities are endeavouring to get them into the harbour today.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.