In a further reply, Mr. Butler stated that he had seen press reports that booms had been placed across the harbours at Foochow and Wenchow, and statements by the Japanese authorities in Tientsin that the Concession had been completely closed from Saturday.
Lord Halifax, however, had no official confirmation, and had nothing to add to the Prime Minister's statement on the subject of Tientsin.
Mr. Arthur Henderson, the Labour leader, asked if it was not understood that while the negotiations were proceeding, there would be some relaxation of the blockade, rather than intensification.
Mr. Butler replied in the afirmative, but reiterated that the Foreign Office had no official confirmation of the statement attributed to the Japanese military authorities Tientsin—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.