London, Feb. 15.
Renewal of the Japanese assurances given to France on the occupation Hainan Island were made to the British Government, "with a shade of additional emphasis," by the Supanese Foreign' Minister, Mr. Hachiro Arita, the Tokyo correspond= ent of "The Times" day, "The occupation, he repeated, wax directed solely by military necessity the correspondent added. "The answer clearly intended to imply that the occupation of Hainan jx a war measure with limited objectives not connected with the question of Pacific Strategy. Tt is unlikely that any thing more definite will be forth coming."
'Assurances upon, the temporary character of Japan's occupation of Hainan Island, - previously' given M. Charles Arsene Henry, French Am~ bassador in Tokyo, were renewed yesterday to the British Ambassador, Sir Robert L. Craigie, by Mr. Arita, it was authoritatively stated here. Mr. Arita at the same time complained to Sir Robert about allened British intervention in favour of China, well-informed observers added.
He complained about alleged Brit-Ish arms trafficking to China, but Sir Robert declared that all rumours about such trafficking were "entire~ groundless." The Japanese Foreign Minister thereupon declared that the favourable altitude of Brit~ ish public opinion towards China could "only be interpreted as a form Politicians commenting upon this, stated that the Tokyo Government were apparently endeavouring to justify their occupation of Hainan, Which constitutes. a breach of promises made to Britain and France—Havas, Demarche
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.