The concluding paragraph in Sir Robert's address, Mr. Suma declared, was one that could be "openly said by any diplomatic representative" It read: "Japan and Great Britain are two maritime Powers on the fringe of continents and vitally concerned with events on those continents. Our methods may in some cases differ, but both countries are ultimately striving for the same objective, namely a lasting peace and the preservation of our institutions from extraneous subversive influences.
Negotiations between the British and the Japanese Governments, Mr. Suma continued, were being carried on regarding the silver question, while endeavours were being made to "finish" other pending matters.
The growing difficult positions of neutral Powers in regard to international trade, Mr. Suma_ stated, deserved greater attention. The difficulties, he pointed out, had been mostly caused by the policies of the belligerents to restrict international trade which infringes upon the freedom of trade of neutral Powers.
Japan and the United States, he continued, were "in the same boat," but Mr, Suma said he felt that Japan was being more seriously affected because of her geographical position.
During the World War, he declared, Japan had entered it on the Allied side and therefore had no experience as a neutral, but in the current conflict she was a neutral.
"The inconveniences felt by neutral Powers are greater than expected," the spokesman said whereupon a British correspondent remarked: "Why not remove the difficulty by joining?"
"Japan," Mr. Suma replied," adheres to her policy of non-involvement."—Domei Tientsin Issues Talked Over in Tokyo Tokyo, Apr. 5.
Sir Robert Craigie, British Ambassador, had an interview with Mr. Masayuki Tani, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, this morning. They are reported to have discussed outstanding issues concerning Tientsin—Reu-
Although the fire was under control within 20 minutes of the arrival of the engines, it took nearly two hours before the last unit left the scene.
The gutted foundry, and the adjoining dwelling house: which had its doors, windows and the. roof scorched, were wooden structures and the flames spread with increasing rapidity until finally checked. Two other adjoining buildings were very slightly damaged and had not the wind blown the flames away from a number of foreign houses in the vicinity, the firemen attending the call would have been unable to cope with it unassisted.
No more than 15 minutes were required to put out a blaze which was noticed in a Chinese oil and sauce shop at 149-151, Carter Road just before 1 am. Only the wicker covering of an oil jar was damaged, and firemen from Sinza station, who had been summoned, returned to their station about 15 minutes later.
A special call was received from the Old Ningpoo Wharf, Broadway East, shortly after 9 am. yesterday when formaldehyde was found to be leaking from barrels stored in the holds of the Danish freighter Peter Maersk. Donning smoke-masks, firemen investigated and after a considerable amount of air was blown into the hold, the machine responding to the call returned to Central Station, while two firemen were left on duty on the ship throughout the day. They were withdrawn in the evening. Unloading operations on the ship were not interrupted and the steamer will sail on schedule, At 931 am. yesterday, firemen were summoned to a Chinese house at 159, Myburgh Road, where bedding had caught fire after a child had been playing with matches during the absence of its parents. When the firemen arrived, they found that the occupants had already put out the flames.
The carelessness of a pedestrian was almost responsible for the complete destruction of 99 bales of cotton which had been unloaded from trucks outside the Tung Yeh Cotton Mill, at 25, Mokanshan Road at 12.54 p.m. yesterday, when engines from Ichang Road were summoned to the scene and extinguished the fire. They worked for 30 minutes and with the exception of external scorching no extensive damage was recorded.
Meanwhile, the French Concession fire brigade went into action at 7.30 a.m. yesterday when the terraces of Houses 6 and 7, Lane 285, Rue Lafayette, were reported to be alight. Engines from Poste Joffre attended and remained on the scene for one hour and 30 minutes. Only slight damage was caused.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.