JAPAN MAY
REDUCE TERMS
PEACE TALK AROUSED IN FAR EAST
Peiping, To-day. Coincident within the "peace statement" of General Yamada, Japanese com- mander-in-chief in Central China, in Shanghai, there is considerable peace talk in high Chinese and Japanese circles here, according to well-informed Chinese.
This is not caused by the European events but has probably been acce- lerated by them.
Sources declare that the younger officer group, regarded as extremists, are losing some of their influence to the older officers, and another source
THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 25, 1939.
NAZIS ALLEGE POLISH COUP PLAN
Berlin, To-day.
It it suggested by the German news agency reports from Warsaw that Polish military action against Danzig is imminent.
It is stated in German political circles that the declarations of Bri- tish statesmen last evening have made a “negative impression" in Berlin. Meanwhile, the last British newsmen in Berlin have left for Copenha-
Reuter.
gen.
GERMAN TROOPS MOVING UNDER COVER OF HUGE PROHIBITED AIR ZONE
BERLIN, TO-DAY.
very close to the "provisional govern- UNDER COVER OF THE HUGE PROHIBITED AREA FOR AIRCRAFT IN EAST GERMANY, MANY LAST-MINUTE TROOP MOVEMENTS ARE
ment" expressed the belief that the
older generals are "willing to lower their price to talk peace.”—Reuter.
POPE ALSO MAKES PLEA FOR PEACE
Vatican City, To-day. Speaking firmly, and often `with deep emotion, His Holi- ness the Pope yesterday ad- dressed a peace appeal to the rulers and peoples of Europe.
His Holiness said: "Danger is im- minent but there is still time. Noth- ing is lost with peace but all would be lost with war.
"To-day, when tension seems to have reached such a pitch that we fear the outbreak of the tremendous whirlwind of war, we make to rulers and peoples our warmest appeal to the former that they inay lay aside threats and arms and try to revolve the present difficulties by the only suitable method, namely considered agreements, and to the latter that they may encourage the peaceful initiative of their government.
"It is with the force of reason, and not with that of arms, that Justice advances. Let men under. stand one another again and start negotiating.
HONOURABLE SUCCESS.
"In negotiating with goodwill and respect for reciprocal rights they will realise that peaceful negotiations never exclude honourable success.
"I supplicating the strong and the powerful, we have with us the whole of humanity, which looks for bread and freedom" rather than for the sword which kills and destroys." Reuter.
GERMAN DEPARTURES FROM HONG KONG
THE GERMAN CONSUL-GEN- ERAL IN HONG KONG TO-DAY "DENIED" "REPORTS THAT: GERMAN NATIONALS. IN THE COLONY HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO LEAVE **THE COLONY.
*The Conkul-General stated to the “China Mail" that the departure of Germans yesterday ffom the Colony < was due to the warning and advice *** given by the Hồng Kong Government * in that those-uphs Jar Øy contem- Anguste leavinga
sen. Chiir own initiativis.
WASHINGTON, "TO-DAY.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HAS APPEALED TO BOTH. HITLER AND THE POLISH PRESIDENT TO PRESERVE PEACE.—REU- TER.
BEING PERFECTED.
From a very well-informed non-German military source, Reuter learns that the German tactics in the event of an invasion of Poland would be the following:
The main concentrations of troops are in East Prus- sia, where ten or eleven divisions are assembled. including the famous 1st Army Corns. It is un- derstood that these troops would advance down the eastern bank of the Vistula.
Two other big apncentrations are said to be in Pomerania, op- posite Gydnla and near Breslau. The former would march straight across to Danzig and the second would come up in a north-easter- ly direction south of Poland.
There are perhaps 22 or 23 German divisions now round the Pollah frontlers, and reserve divi- sions are
and being organised brought up with remarkable fre- quency and efficiency.-Reuter.
FIRST BORDER CLASH.!
Berlin, To-day. The first serious frontier clash oc- curred last night, according to
the German news agency, in the district of Makoshua, near Hindenburg, in Upper Silesia.
Polish guards are alleged to have crossed into German territory, and German frontier officials opened fire upon the Poles refusing to return.
The Poles replied, and one man on each side was seriously wounded.
The message adds that the
"in-
cident has evoked much indignation among the population."
Reuter's Warsaw Correspondent
Berlin, To-day.
The military have taken full con-' trol in Polish Upper Silesia.
They have ordered all hospitals to be evacuated and held ready for army use, while emergency hospitals have been established.
All schools and assembly halls are being used for billeting troops.
Transports vehicles are continu- ously pouring into the frontler zone. All privately-owned cars and motorcycles have been requi- altloned.
on
Trenches are being dug everywhere behind the main fortifications, which thousands are engaged in strengthening and supplementing. interior and trains to Families are being moved into the Cracow and Warsaw are crowded.
:
DANZIG ISOLATED
morning.
ROOSEVELT
NOT APPROACHING HITLER
Washington, To-day.
The Secretary of State, Mr. Mr. Cordell Hull, stated yester- day that no copy of President Roosevelt's appeal to the King of Italy was being sent directly to the German Government.
One Washington official la quoted as saying that in effect, President Roosevelt's
message asserted the "absolute right" of Poland to maintain her inde- pendence If she 60 desired.— Reuter,
JAPAN NOT CONSULTED BY NAZIS
Traffic between Danzig and Poland has been almost completely interrupt-
Tokyo, To-day. "Japan was not consulted ed.
beforehand in Ships moving down the Vistula to
connection Danzig are being stopped at Dirschnu. With the German-Soviet Danzig cut off telephone com- pact," declared the Premier, munications with Poland yesterday Baron Hiranuma, to the Poland thereupon closed the fron-Japanese Cabinet Council says that an atmosphere of distinct tier to which Danzig responded by yesterday, according to the excitement prevailed in Warsaw last trying. to hold Polish shipping. One
Domei news agency. night but there was no trace of panic.steamer refused to submit to control The streets were full of military and proceeded To Gdynia. Trans- cara, lorries and taxis taking re-" servists to the railway station. In all cafès, soldiers. were to seen having farewell drinks with their friends, while officers dined with rela- tives in restaurants.
MORE RESERVISTS
Meanwhile, three more classes of reservists, aged 26 to 28, have bean hurriedly called up, and specialists are being called to the age of 60.
be
Ocean.
DANGER THREATENING
Herr von Ribbentrop (the.. Nazi Foreign Minister), before his depar- ture for Moscow, informed the Ja- panese Ambassador, Mr.. Oshima, that in view of the negotiations for 2 military pact between Britain, France and Russia, and the tense situation in Donzig, Germany had no alternative but to conclude a non-aggression pact with the Soviet.
Router. ·
Berlin, To-day. Special editions of Berlin news papers last night unanimously stress- ed in huge headlines "Danger is Threatening:"explaining that an at- tack on Danzig by the Poles must riowabe expected immediately.
Baron Hiranuma added that Japan *** "Lokalanzeiger" points out that now faced the necessity of dealing Poland is fond of coup d'etats, as with the international situation from shown last September when Poland her own independent viewpoint. occupied the Olsa district, and by the Altogether 600,000 men are believ Polish invasion of Lithuania. ed to be affected.
More and more serious reports on Mombors of the German Em- basay staff are packing-Router.
the situation on the Polish-Danzig frontier have not been able to create Berlin, To-day. a feeling of nervousness in the Reich Anti-sferaft guna appeared on capital But have had the effect. of the roofs of prominent buildings, hardening the German attitude. A **In Barlin - Yesterday; and^* some
SBRITAIN CRITICISED brand-new models were taken Von Ribbentrop, the Reich Foreign through the streets In the mornMinister, is said to have been received Ing.
by Der Fuehrer at 10 p.m. yesterday and a large crowd has, assembled out side the Chancellery and with them all Berlin is waiting with the greatest
Otherwise the city exhibita fow signs of being; on the verge of war. -Reuter.
attention for a. communique on the conversation."
The speeches of Mr. Chamberlain and Lord Halifax in the House of Commons yesterday are sharply cri- ticised in Berlin, because: "İtikdad of advising the Foles to exercisë modera- ton both statermen had given support to Polish chauvinism which is. manifesting itself at the moment in military measures against Danzig and outrages against members of the German minority."--Trans-Ocean,
new