Washington, Nov. 23.
The State Department, yesterday said it was secking more information concerning the reported arrest. Hanoi of Mr. Robert W. Unden, American vice-consul_and Mr, Melville Jacoby, United Press Stait correspondent.
Oflicials said they had heard only press reports of the arrests and declined" to comment further until Requisitioned London, Nov. 20, A question as to what action was being taken regarding the requisition. ing of British shipping on the China coast and whether all British ships there were Included in the scheme and the reasons for the exclusion of any vessel, was put by Sir John Warlaw-Mfilne (Worcestershire, 'Kid-Germinister member) yesterday' in the House of Commons to the Minister of Shipping, Mr, R. G, Cross.
Mr. Cross stated in his reply that ocean-Roing ships of the two British ner companies concerned had been brought within the liner requisition scheme and a number of ocean-toing, tramps suitable for service elsewhere had been requisitioned.
Regarding other ocean-xoing ships; registered in ports of British registry. in the area, a local requisition control scheme similar to that of the last war was under discussion with the British authorities in. that -area—Reuter.
(G) Reciprocal rights 10 to both United States and Eritish military aircraft to use the: airfields "established by the United States Government and His within the ea on Barham Sound and a the easy side of Barham official information was received.
Mr. Unden, who formerly was stationed at Hongkong, and Mr. Jacoby were said to have been arrested by 2 Japanese sentry guarding a muni-ons dump.
"The two Americans were said to have driven near the dump in a car and Mr, Jacoby was said to have Photographed the dump.
When challenged by the sentry Mr. Unden and Mr. Jacoby are said to have driven away but were overtaken near a railway crossing where French gendarmes were patrolling.
"The sentry turned Mr, Jacoby 2 lies. Whether the two men were being detained was not learned im-
Local Effects he requisitioning reheme at pre-in operation on the China Coast involves control by the British Government of certain liners and frelghtsels on the register of H.M.
Office in Shanghai act under int orders, although as little interference as possible is made. Ships trade as they wish, subject to government approval, but are Hable to be used directly should an emergency or any special situation arise, The Scheme mentioned abave is at present being worked out, and will probably involve ships. plying between Hong-Kong and Shanghai, "although the whole "of the Far East may be Drought in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.