Washington, Feb. 18.
It was indicated here that if Germany torpedoed an American ship forced into belligerent waters by the British blockade the United States would hold both countries responsible, Mr. Cordell Hull, hurriedly conferred with the British Ambassador to Washington, Lord Lothian, yesterday io discuss again American demands that Britain cease taking U.S. ships into forbidden areas.
Senator Key Pittman, Chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Rela~ tions Committee, described the German statement as a "violent," illegal threat" He said, however, that Britain could remove a "very grave danger" by ceasing to force US. ships into belligerent areas—United Press, Rift in Department of State Denied Sumner Welles Mission to Europe Clarified Washington, Feb. 15, Published reports that the assignment of Mr. Sumner Welles, the Under-Secretary of State, to tour European capitals had caused a rift in the State Department, on that President selected Mr. Welles without consulting Mr. Cordell Hull, the Secretary. of. State, were: vigorously denied here yesterday by Mr. Welles, Mr. Hull, and Mr. Stephen Early, the spokesman: for the White House.
Mr. Early said that Mr. Roosevelt had originally considered sending a businessman to Europe, but selected Mr. Welles after a conference with Mr. Hull, The Secretary of State issued a statement branding the report as false and a new attempt at troublemaking. 5 "The President and myself have always agreed on politics and methods pertaining to foreign affairs as nearly uniformly as any other two men who have occupied our respective positions," Mr. Hull des: clared.—United Press. a Japanese Told Terms of Osaka Municipal Authorities Sending Mission To Guage Possibilities; Sugar Factory Formed'
Canton, Feb. 15.
With condition in Canton becoming more and more normal, Japanese economic penetration has been intensified.
The extent of Japanese commercial activity here may be gaged from the fact that the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Canton has at present over 7.000 members—the highest in its history.
The latest enterprise under the control of former Chinese regime to be taken over by the Japanese, according to a local report, is the Shuntak Sugar Refinery. This plant is now said to be run by the Taiwan Sugar Enterprise Association. It is also reported that the Association may soon assume: control of the Tungkoon Sugar Refinery.
With these two large refineries coming under their control, the Japanese will have a virtual monopoly of the sugar trade in South China.
Meanwhile, it is learned that the Osaka Municipal authorities are sending a party of experts to Canton with a view to surveying the economic possibilities of South China. After conducting an inspection in Canton, the will proceed to Hoihow (Hainan Island? jud Pak:.vi.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.