THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 24, 1939.
THE BLACKMAIL GAME Better To Give In To Axis Than Fight!
"Olive Branch" With Hidden Thorns
An obviously co-ordinated effort to persuade the democracies—under the menace of “150,000,- 000 bayonets" that it would be better to fall into with the Axis claims for revision of Euro- pean frontiers, than to fight about it. Nearly all German papers have adopted this as their theme, in comments on the Italo-German Alliance, and Signor Gayda follows suit.
The suggestion is thrown up that everything can be settled between the four Great Powers, that the views of the small States are not material to the issue of creating the basis for a “stable peace."
Socialist Party
Rome, To-day. National "Last Invitation To Co-operate" | says: is the title of an article by Signor "The western powers are Gayda in "Giornale d'Italia.”
Two defence blocs are now form- ed, Europe has arrived at the cross-roads and the question fac- ing the world is whether Europe will plunge blindly into war or adopt a new policy which is more cautious and at the same time more generous.
There is no doubt, declares Gayda, that "the Italo-German bloc Is superior to that of the Ver- sailles encirclement powers" but he says that Germany and Italy have no intention of taking the initia- tive in resorting to force for soluton of pending questions.
AXIS DEMAND
-CREATION- OF NEW CARDINALS
Vatican City, To-day.
The Pope is expected to convoke a Consistory in November for the creation of from six to eight Car- dinals.
Names of the candidates have not been disclosed, but it is stated that three to four are likely to be Italians and among the others will possibly be two Americans and a Pole.-Trans-Ocean,
LOAN TO SPAIN “INADVISABLE"
London, To-day,
A British loan to Spain was des- cribed as "inadvisable" by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir
John Simon, in the House of Com- mons, the Chancellor referring to
CHINA'S NEW TECHNICAL ADVISERS
Shanghai, To-day.
The French Ambassador, M. Henri Cosme, has authorised a flat denial of the Japanese press report alleging that the French Govern- ment had a placed a military mission at the disposal of the Chinese Gov-
ernment.
"The Ambassador has learned that a few retired officers, having
no
longer any ties with the French Army, have been engaged individually by the Chinese Gov- ernment in the capacity of tech- nical experts.-
"The French
Government,
a previous identical statement re- however, has no knowledge of the whichgarding this matter. This also ap- terms and conditions under whịch plied to the granting of a credit to their services have been enlist- Spain he added.-Trans-Ocean. ed." Reuter.
now
to choose whether to seek salvation
by continuing to follow the wrong path or to consider the advisability of seeking, in common with the Axis Powers, those solutions which will bring about true and equitable peace desired by all peoples.
“FRIGHTEN OFF”
The "Berliner Lokal Anzeiger" underscores the intention of Ger- many and Italy to remain true to their common political philosophy and to seek happiness and
pros-
RANPURA HELD UP BY JAPANESE CRUISER OFF WAGLAN
perity in the evolution of their Flying a Rear-Admiral's flag, a large Japanese
ideal of social progress. What is being done to-day to "frighten off possible disturbers of the peace" may soon give place to a concilia- be seen
"Italy and Germany demandatory mood when it will revision of the system created by that the German-Italian bloc is
Cruiser stopped the P. and O. mail and passen- ger liner Ranpura at a point four miles south- west of Waglan Island this morning to ex- amine her papers.
Versailles which has been carried just as prepared to talk peace as Interested passengers on board included Rear-
to an extreme by London and to go to war. Trans-Ocean.
Paris during the past three years.
space.
Berlin, To-day.
"This revision must be based on The Nazi Air Minister, Field- natural elements and on geographic | Marshal Goering, last evening spoke on the international situa- "As far as Europe is concerned, tion at the new A.R.P. centre at this question interests Germany Wannsee. and Italy on the one side and Great
Field-Marshal Goering repeated Britain and France on the other. the old charge of encirclement. For its solution neither the con- He said: "There is again a fusion of large international con- powerful Germany in Central ferences or systems or encircle-Europe which is indissolubly link-
ment are necessary.'
PROBLEM TABLED
ed with another powerful nation, and these nations are both young The problem has now been offi- and determined to defend their cially tabled, according to the vital interests under all circum- writer, and the moment for its
stances." Trans-Ocean. solution has arrived. Without im- patience, but without weak toler- ance, Germany and Italy supported by their alliance and the forces at their disposal await the decision of the Democracies as to which form the solution shall take.' Trans-
Ocean.
CZECH ASSETS TO BE HELD
LONDON, TO-DAY. THE QUESTION OF THE RE- LEASE OF CZECH ASSETS HELD IN ENGLAND WAS AGAIN RAISED IN THE HOUSE
ANOTHER HINT
Berlin, To-day. "A positive necessity and fitting reply to the policy of encirclement, is how the German newspapers de- scribe the Italo-German alliance. OF COMMONS YESTERDAY.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Admiral Murray and Commodore Peters.
The Ranpura, with passen- gers, cargo and the mails on board from Home and Euro- pean_ports, was stopped by the Japanese cruiser at 8.10 o'clock this morning and was - detained until 8.45 o'clock, when she was permitted to continue on to Hong Kong.
Immediately on receiving the order to stop from the Japanese warship (whose name is not yet known), the captain of the Ranpura wire- lessed Hong Kong. H.M.S. Duchess, which was exercis- ing in the vicinity, was or dered to proceed to the spot to investigate.
Shortly after the arrival of the British destroyer, the Japanese cruiser permitted the Ranpura to continue her voyage, after examining her papers.
the new Commodore,
able to say that he or she actually heard the boom of a gun.
Three officers were in the board- ing party, but they left within a few minutes.
NO STATEMENT "Sorry, but we are not in a posi- tion to say anything about it," said an official of Messra, Mackinnon, Mackenzie
local.. and Company, agents for the P. and O. S. N. Co., when interviewed by the "China Mail."
"The whole thing is now in the hands of the Navy," he went on, "and any statements, to be made in connection with it must come from them
He was unable to say whether or not any protest or other action was contemplated. The ship was not searched; her papers were examin- ed, and the whole matter was over "within a few minutes.”
FIRST OCCASION · SHOTS REPORT
While British merchant ships Reports that the cruiser fired engaged in coastal traffic up and In various ways, the hint is thrown out that the Axis Powers are pre- Sir John Simon, said there would two shots across the bows of the down the China Coast have been pared
not only to defend their be no general release until financial Ranpura to bring her to a halt ordered to stop and submit their
due from. Czecho- could not be confirmed in authori-papers for examination by Japan-~ vital interests but to confer with obligations the western Democracies in the Slovakia to British holders had beentative quarters, who preserve re-ese warships, if asked, this is the hope of building up a durable satisfactorily arranged. basis for European appeasement.
This "olive branch" has the full
Sir John emphasised that Bank of International
approval of the "Volkischer Beo sets were immun Settlements
1
bachter", the central organ of the
as
every form of international restriction, Reuter
ticence regarding the affair,
Numerous passengers informed the "China Mail" that they had been told that two shots were fired, but none could be found who was
first occasion on which a large ocean-going liner arriving in China waters from Europe has been so` stopped. The Ranpura has a gross - tonnage of over 16,600 tons.