Tientsin, June 19.
Wires strung round the British and French Concessions were to be charged with electricity at 9 p.m, according to a notice issued by the commander of the Japanese forces in Tientsin.
The notice was written in Chinese and in English.
Total length of the wires is 50 kin. They will be charged with 220 volts.—Domei. to the significance of this notice, as the wire hitherto has been frequently charged by the Japanese without any previous potice.
Following further incidents involve ing Britons today, of an even more serious nature than before, the Bri-Consul-General, Mr. E. G. Jamieson, issued a notice requesting Eritons not to leave the Concessions unless this was vitally necessary. There are at present no signs of any relaxation of the stringent restrictions on the borders of the Concessions, On the contrary, a request for ssu a relaxation is reported in sem official Japanese circles to have been turned down by the Japanese Consul-General in Tientsin, Mr. Tashiro.
"Ihe request was made by Mr. E. G. Jamieson in a personal interview with Mr. Tashiro at noon today.
Mr. Jamieson complained of the shortage of foodstuffs in the British Concession, and asked for a relaxation of the restrictions on provisions now being enforced by the Japanese. The Japanese Consul-General is said to have pointed out, in rejecting Mr. Jamieson's requests, that the Japanese authorities had taken independent action only after the British authorities had "refused to ce-operate with the Japanese authorities in maintaining peace and order in North China."
"Therefore, Mr. Tashiro is reported to have declared, the Japanese authorities would continue to pursue their present policy. Mr. Jamieson also pointed out the discrimination allegedly shown by the Japanese authorities in examining and searching pedestrians and traffic. He requested that equal treatment be given Britons with that accorded to nationals of other foreign Powers.
Economic Pressure A hint that, if Britain were to resort to such a measure as economic pressure against Japan, the Japanese authorities on the spot might "rightfully consider themselves released from their obligations to respect B tain's rights and interests in China was given in a statement made today by a spokesman for the Japanese military authorities. He recalled that the Japanese Government had repeatedly enunciated its policy to respect the rights and interests of Third Powers in China.
Accordingly, he declared, the Japanese front line forces had faithfully observed the Governments enunciated policy, at the sacrifice of great strategic advantages.
The statement bron that sacrifices will be made by the Japanese authorities in order to minimize the inconveniences which Americans, Germans and other nationals, having no concessions of their own at Tientsin, may experience as a result of the Japanese isolation of the foreign areas.
It refers Third Powers io their nationals in Tientsin to ascertain what treatment they are receiving at the hands of the Japanese authorities.
Declaring that the Japanese authorities have no intention whatever of throwing out of employment those law-abiding Chiniese who depend on the British and French Concessions for their living, the statement adds that the authorities are paying full attention to their plight, and are giving them jobs.
"Challenge to Japan"
In an interview with Reuter today, Mr. A. E. Tipper, Chairman of the British Municipal Council, vehemently denied a Japanese report appearing in the press here today alleging that the British Council had banned the transport of flour stored in the British Concession to outside areas, and describing this step as a challenge to Japan.
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Great Britain, he added, was maintaining close touch with France and the United States.
Mr. Chamberlain said the British Government could not but believe that the Japanese Government shared their own desire not to widen the area of disagreement, or to render it more acute in an already difficult situation.
The Foreign Secretary, Halifax, was seeing Mr. Shigemi the Japanese Ambassador, today, and Sir Robert Craigie, the British Ambassador in Tokyo, was trying to clarify the situation with the Japanese Government Barrier restrictions in Tientsin, Mr. Chamberlain told the House, continued, and all British subjects were being held up at barriers, rigorously searched and, in some cases, subjected to indignities.
The entry of perishable foodstuffs was being delayed by rigid searching at the barriers, and continued, therefore, to be spasmodic. Normal supplies were reported to be reaching the market in the adjoining French Concession.
On the morning of June 18, Mr. Chamberlain continued, two British coastal vessels, came up: the river to Tientsin without being stopped for search. Generally speaking, however, British vessels, including tugs and lighters, were being stopped and searched by the Japanese military authorities.
British Protests The British Consul-General in Tientsin had addressed protests to his Japanese colleague, and Sir Robert Craigie had been instructed to take up these matters with the Japanese Government.
The general position was not yet clear. It would appear that the original demand for the handing over of four Chinese had been confused by the introduction of larger issues of general policy.
No formal representatives had been received from the Japanese Government on this subject and it was still hoped that a local settlement would be found possible, Mr. Arthur Henderson, Labour member for the Kingswinford division of Staffordshire, asked if the British offer that the question of the four Chinese suspects should be settled by an international advisory committee still held good.
The Prime Minister: "Yes, that still holds good."
Mr. Anthony Eden, former Foreign Secretary, asked whether it could be umed that it had been made clear from Mr. Chmberlain's statement, that all concerned now understood the British Government's intention to ensure the safe arrival of supplies of foodstuffs intended for British subjects in Tientsin.
Mr, Chamberlain: "Yes, we are enquiring into that point, and will take whatever steps may be necessary to ensure them supplies of foodstuffs."
Questioned regarding the British naval forces in the neighborhood of Warship and Italian Steamship Collide "N.C.D.N." Photos, While turning round in the Whangpoo River yesterday afternoon, prior to teaving port for Dairen, the Italian coastal steamship, Amba Alagi, of the China Italian Navigation Ca. which was being towed by two tugs, suddenly swung into the bows of the French cruiser Primaugwet as the result of strong tidal water and wind. Little damage was sustained by the warship but the merchant ship was damaged and will remain in port for some days. Above pictures show views of the ships immediately after the collision.
In the lower photograph the Amba Alagi has just swung away from the cruiser's bows after the impact
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.