IMPERIAL CONFERENCE
OUTCOME
Programme Of Unification
In Manufacture
London, May 15. Co-ordination In construction for defence purposes is predicted as a likely outcome of the Imperial Conference. The programme of unification envisaged would pro- vide for the manufacture and sup- ply of precisely similar guns, muni- tions. mechanised units, and engine parts for naval military and air force purposes in all parts of the Empire.
The scheme would enable Domi- Inions and British equipment to be readily interchangeable and available for. transference should any one part of the Empire be attacked.
There general acceptance among the Dominions that in the event of Britala becoming involved in war, a declaration of neutrality by one of the Dominions would not be respected by, the enemy.
DEFENCE OF EMPIRE Foreign policy and defence of the Empire, were the main points stressed by the Premier. Mr. Stan- ley Baldwin, in his opening address at the Conference.
Mr. Baldwin reminded the as- sembled delegates that in arriving at solution to the various problems confronting them they were re- sponsible not only to their own countries but to the entire world.
On the question of armaments, Mr. Baldwin declared: "We regret having been forced to rearm but we had no choice.
·
"We have assumed this burden in order to guarantee the secur- ity of this island, which is still the centre of the Empire, and also in order to fulfill our duty 28 a loyal member of the League
of Nations.**
IMPORTANT PEACE FACTOR Mr. W. L. Mackenzle King sald that the equality of rights that existed
between the different members of the Empire, as well as between them and other countries of the world, constituted an im- portant factor in the peace of the world."
ANGLO-JAPANESE UNDERSTANDING
Nanking Interest
Nanking, May 16. Much interest in aroused in off- cial circles concerning Japanese overtures of an Anglo-Japanese understanding with rezard their interests in China and the Far East.
to
A London dispatch stated that the Japanese proposals: are con- cerned with economic matters but also touch on political and diplo- matic issues. It is said that the Chinese government here will not countenance any agreement affecting Chinese political inde- pendence or territorial Integrity.
According to the same dispatch. British opinion is also against any pact with Japan which may be As impairing Chinese
construed rights.
..
Dr. H. H. Kung, the special Chinese envoy in London for the recent coronation, is watching de- velopments and keeps the govern- ment here well informed on the latest development.
Sir Hughe M. Knatchbuil-Huges- sen, the British Ambassador, call- ed on Dr. Wang Chung-hul, the the Foreign Minister and Acting President of the Executive Yuan, yesterday afternoon and remained in conversation for one hour.-
Frion News.
MR. EDEN AT THE
GERMAN EMBASSY
London, May 15, Mr. Anthony Eden, the Foreign Secretary, was a guest at luncheon to-day at the German Embassy. where he again met Field-Marshal von Blomberg, who has been in London for the Coronation. British Wireless.
Greek Official Resigns:
Athens, May 15.
He concluded with the assurance that the Dominions would co-oper- ate in furthering the cause of peace.
The Australian Premier, Mr. J. A. Lyons, said that unification of the Empire was never so complete than at present, but that the ex- periences of the last few years had proved that some of the ideals | embodied in the League of Nations could not be realised.
HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY («The Australian Government was
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, MAY 17, 1937.
ACTIVITY ON
BASQUE FRONT
Insurgents Make Headway
Salamanca, May 15. Sanguinary fighting was report-" ed from the Basque front yester- day. The insurgent infantry con- solidated thetr newly-captured | positions, while the artillery bom- barded the Republican positions round Bilbao and rebel planes were again active.
On the Madrid front the loyalst air force carried out several raids
On the western outskirts of the capital, in the French bridge sector, the insurgent infantry-com- pleted "mopping up" operations.
Rebel planes bombed on the E Pardo and Jarrama River sectors.
ESCAMPLERO BOMBED
On the Asturian front the rebel of the opinion that the fundamen- artillery bombarded Trubia and tal principles governing the foreign Escamplero. policy of the Empire and the post-on the Aragon front the rebel tion of the League of Nations in air force carried out à number of world politics, should be thorough-bombing raids over the Republican ly examined and a formula deve- lines. |loped which would lead to unified
Empire policy.
The Dominions should realise that their independent status in- volved, a high degree of responsi- bility.
They should demonstrate their capability to defend themselves
and to play a role in the further- ing of peace in the world.
INTERNATIONAL UNREST Following appointment of two sub-committees for economic que tions and for air traffic, the con- ference adjourned until Wednes- day, when the serious business will be attacked by the committees.
Purely technical matters will he dealt with by the sub-committees, which will not convene until Thursday.
The chief committee, composed of the leaders of the various delegations and their most in- timate collaborators, will assemble on Wednesday, to examine, in Mr. Baldwin's words, "the main causes of the present international unrest and to exchange views on the possibility of the Empire as a whole contributing towards reduc- tion or complete removal of such cause."
Trautorean News Service.
RAW MATERIAL
· IMPORTS
German Figures Increase
A war bulletin Issued by the Republican "Government in Madrid admits another successful rebel air raid on the capital.
Many were killed and damage done.
much
"J
KEBEL AIR RAIDS Rebel air raids on the Basque front also caused much damage, though one of the raiders was shot down, the pllot escaping unhurt after a parachute jump.
On the Santander front the Re- publicans launched an attack on the rebel positions.
SEVERE CASUALTIES After changing hands several times, the town of Barrio finally remained in the possession of the loyalists, the rebels suffering severe casualties in counter attacks
On the Asturian front, the Re- publicans claim to have dispersed rebel troops concentrating for a major drive.
Trasanceau News Server
VALENCIA CASUALTIES
Valencia, May 15. Thirty were killed and 10 in Jured in an air raid on Valencia by Two rooms in the British Embassy five insurgent planes last evening.
were badly damaged and several occupants slightly injured.
"Rabat: Fifteen 'were killed and 150 injured in an air raid on Saragossa by Government planes. according to an insurgent wireless message.- Reuter.
HINDENBURG DISASTER
Investigators Face Difficulties
Berlin, May 15. "We are faced with, a deep
Berlin, May 15. German Imports: of rubber, oil- seeds and other products from India has increased 25 per cent. 'in the first quarter of the year com pared with the corresponding period of last year according to a survey of Germany's foreign trade published to-day. The coun- try's total imports amounted in value to £87,238, an increase of puzzle," runs a cable received in 3.7 per cent over over the first Berlin from Lieut.-Colonel Brel- quarter of 1936. Exports were thaupt, of the Reich Air Ministry, £102,040. an increase of 13.1 Der who is at Lakehurst, New Jersey. cent.-
Together with Dr. Hugo Ecken- Reuter.
er, the zeppelin expert, and other members of the special German commission of enquiry which ar- rived in New York on the Europa, to investigate the cause of the
W
SWEEPING CHANGES
IN RUSSIA
Trade Unions Affected
Hindenburg disaster, he has car- ried out a thorough examination of the mangled remains of the once proud queen of the air.
Filma and photographs, con- tinues his cable, are being care- Morcow, May 18,
fully examined for possible clues, The sweeping changes going on and the commission is at present in all Soviet institutions has now following a line of investigation reached the
trade unions which into whether the usual safety are completely reorganised on the rules were being observed on. basis of the new constitution.
board at the time of the tragedy.
Minesweeping Operations In Spain
Valencia, May 15.
The Ministry of Marine, in a communique, states that it is reported from Almeria that a coastguard ship, minesweeping yes- terday morning in the zone indicated by the Commander of the Jaime Primero, discovered a mine with an electric explosive sys=
tem.
Shots were fired at the mine from which a yellow liquid, assumed to be sulphuric acid, emerged. Spanish naval officers and two delegates from the British Consulate watched the opera- tions. The mine will be towed ashore. The position where it was discovered gives reason to believe that it is identical with that which caused the explosion on HM.S. Hunter-Reuter,
H.M.S. HUNTER TRAGEDY
GOVERNMENT RESIGNS
Valencia. May 15 The Caballero Government has
Three Seamen Buried resigned.
At Almeria
Gibraltar. May 15. The bodies of the three seamen killed in the explosion which seriously disabled the destroyer H.M.S. Hunter on Thursday, "were buried in the British cemetery at Almeria to-day.
The funeral was uttended by members of the British Diploma-" the Corps, and representatives of the Spanish Government; while Spanish sailors acted as pali- bearers..
The fourteen men wounded In the explosion, who had received treatment on board A Spanish warship, were transferred - to-day to the British hospital ship Maine.
The cause of the explosion is believed to have been the striking
nature of the damage led at first of a mine, although the peculiar
to a suggestion that, the Hunter had been struck by a torpedo.- Reuter,
LI
AMERICA ACTS
Barcelona, May 15, The United States cruiser 'Raleigh, which had been sent to
Spain for the protection of Ameri- can shipping. yesterday embarked nearly 200 refugees at Almeria.
The refugees, who include 145
Cubans,
four Urguayans, four Chileans, one Englishman and an "American Negro, will be brought
to Marseilles.
In the meantime, a statement is- sued by the British consul at Bil- bao, who is now in St. Jean de Luz, points to the difficulties impeding the evacuation of women and chil- dren from Bilbao.
Most of the refugees refused to
Officially described as the rea- sons for the resignation are the necessity for strengthening' the Government in order to face the prolonged, civil war, and the re- cent events in Barcelona, where the Anarchists were overpowered.
Recently the Socialists and Com- munists (who had six portfolios out of eleven in the Cabinet) de- cided to withdraw from the Gov- ernment.
It is generally believed in Valen- cla that the crisis will be easily solved, with Jenor Largo Cabal- lero heading a new Government In which the number of Minis- tries will be reduced.- Reuter.
FREEMASONRY IN SPAIN
15
Salamanca, May 15. "Nationalist Spain, which fighting to free the country of freemasonry and to re-establish social equality and complete inde- pendence, will not enter into par- leys with foreign groups which. maintain connections with maso- nic lodges."
So declared the founder and Legion, General Millan Astray, in leader of the Spanish Foreign
an official broadcast in reply to trying to arrange rumours that General Frapco was ад armistice with the Republicans through the good offices of a foreign Power.
"Anyone who speaks of an armistice in the nationalist State Is a traitor." he declared, and continued:
in order to win there can be no "When a nation is ready to die
question of compromise.
"We shall never enter into par-
KOWLOON
KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY
¦ CORONATION :
SPECIAL TRAINS
May 17th and 18th 1937.
The following trains, which are supplementary. to the normal service, will run between Kowloon and Canton during the period stated above:---
May 17th.
Kowloon...dep.. 7.37 a.m. Canton....arr. 10.59 a.. Canton...dep. 7.30 a.m. Kowloon...arr. 10.40 a.m.
May
3.10 p.m. 6.46 p.m. 6.35 p.m. 9.58 p.m. 11.40 a.m. 6.46 p.m. 3.03 p.m. 9.58 p.m.
18th.
Kowloon...dep. 7.37 a.m. Canton ...arr, 10 59 a,m, Canton dep. 7.30 a.m. 3.95 p.m. Kowloon...arr. 10.40 am. 7.00 p.m.
R. D. WALKER,
Manager & Chief Engineer.
THE
HONG KONG
14
PENINSULA HOTEL;
HONGKONG HOTEL; REPULSE BAY HOTEL;
&
SHANGHAI
AFTOR HOUSE; FALACE HOTEL;
HOTELS LIMITED.
In association with the Grand Hotel das Wagons Lits, Peking.
WHITE RUSSIAN HEAD PASSES
Major-General Dumitri Horvath
Pelping. May 16. The death occurred to-day of Major-General Dmitri Horvath, head of the Russian community in the Far East. He was president of
Czarist days.
RENEWING CONTACTS
London, May 15.
The presence in London for the Coronation of the Prime Ministers or Foreign Ministers of many coun- tries has afforded an opportunity. of which the Foreign Secretary has taken advantage, to renew contacts established at Geneva or in his visits to European capitals. Mr,“
leave the town, he says, and while leys with the Madrid Government. the Chinese Eastern Rallway in Eden has had a number of valuable
since our aim is final and com-
the Basque Government declared that about 25,000 women and chil-plete victory over Red Spain.".......
dren should be evacuated, actually only from 6,000 to 7,000 could be removed to safety.--- Tronancean News Service.
HUNGARY WANTS EQUALITY
Budapest, May 15. Hungary is the latest nation to join in the
ery for equality in
armaments.
Transocean News Service.
L
GENERAL VON
BLOMBERG FETED
London, May 15.
conversations of quite a general He was 76 years old and had
character and it is probable that been ill with appendicitis for a visiting statesmen, among them- fortnight Reuter.
selves, have taken the chance to "meet and exchange ideas in a way which may be none the less fruit- ful for being quite Informal.
CROWDS WANT TO In continuation of this series of
SEE FUEHRER
The German Ambassador, Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop. yester- day gave a luncheon in honour of
Vienna, May 15. the Reich Defence Minister, Field-
"We want to see the Fuehrer" Marshal von Blomberg.
shouted an enthusiastic crowd included present
waiting on the Innsbruck railway Canterbury. Mr. station when the Berlin-Venice and Mrs. Anthony Eden, Lord and express, with a special saloon car
Londonderry, Lord
attached, arrived on Friday after- noon.
Those
Yesterday the
War Minister, Archbishop of General Roeder, in a speech in Parliament, formulated the Hun- and Lady garian demands for equal rights
in the field of armaments.
He said the claim was not pure- ly military but also political If Hungary had not yet realised her right to equality in arms it did not mean that she renounced solu- tion of the question.
W
The Government would take the necessary steps at the proper mo- ment, he declared.- Dransocean News Service.
the
Derby, the Earl of Dunmore and
Lord Rethermere... Transocean News Service.
UNREST IN
PALESTINE
Jerusalem, May 15. Failure on the part of the au- thorities to grant
expected Br amnesty to 150 árab political pri- soners on the occasion of the Coronation, has led to increasing agitation all over Palestine. Following announcement GERMAN POLICY
hunger strike by prisoners, ali labourers, and office workers in Halfa 'have announced their in- tention of striking until the am-
Transocean News Service.
Five. prominent Trotekist labour It has been hinted that the leaders have been arrested and rules might bave been relaxed as charged with "bureaucratic mis- the voyage was drawing to a close, ORIENTATION OF management, embezzling of mil- and that a burning cigarette or lions of State funds and sabotaging match may have been responsible. work for protection of labour."
United States Navy, Department A special committee from, the
A vigorous new orientation of arrived at Lakehurst to-day to German policy towards the United
The new regulations forbid ap- pointment of union officials to
"Washington, May 15.
provide democratic elections and confer with the German commis-States is expected as result of the nesty is granted.-
official activities... establish control by members of all Reuter
ITALIAN NAVAL ESTIMATES
Rome, May 15. Italian haval construction for the current financial year which is about to end includes twelve des-.
ston.
a
arrival to-day of the new Ambas- It is believed that the question sador. Herr Hans Deckhoff. of delivering hellum gas to Ger Diplomatic circles foresee many will be discussed and that change as great as that which oc- perhaps negotiations will be con- curred in Britain when Herr von cluded for its supply-
Ribbentrop succeeded the. late Transocean News Service.
Herr Leopold von Hoesch.
LIU LU YIN TRIAL OPENED
Hankow, May 15. The trial of Lu Lu-yin *COM"
The Greek Minister of the In-troyers of a thousand tons, six-menced this morning in the First
teen torpedoboats, twenty-six sub- Wuchang District Court--+ marines of over six hundred tons, Reuter,'') Admiral. Cavagnari told the Cham- her in speaking on naval estimates to-day... Reuter,
terior, M. Mayakos, has resigned.
H's resignation was accepted by King George, who has appointed General Dourantis as his succes-
Tramaccan News-Service.
Bor
Herr Luther, the retiring Am- bassador, will tour California and the Orient before returning to Germany
Heuter.
NEW AIR SERVICE
of 3
CUMBERLAND GOES AGROUND
Shanghai, May 15.
The German colony had assem- bled in force as a result of rumours that Herr Hitler was on his way, to Italy secretly for the purpose of a special meeting with Bignor Mussolini
In
Interviews, Mr. Eden yesterday afternoon received the Turkish General Ismet Prime Minister. Inoenu, at the Foreign Office. British Wireless.
EXPERTS STILL IN DISCUSSION
Geneva, May. 15; The committee of experts charged with the preparation of the statute and fundamental law for the Sanjak of Alexandretta, Instead of the Fuehrer, Gen- continues its discussions. The Bri- eral Hermann Goering appeared. fish expert presented the draft of at the carriage window" and ac- the fundamental law. The French knowledged the welcoming cheers. expert proposed certain amend- સ short speech, the Relch.fments to the British draft. Several Air Minister announced that the draft articles dealing notably with train but had no intention of going citizens fundamental rights, were Fuehrer was not only not on' the executive power, Judicial
sdopted on the first reading," and On arrival in Venice the same the committee will submit a re-!! night, General Goering said "he port to the next maston of the was only on a private visit and League Council.— would escort, his wife, who has been convalescing fh Venice after her illness, back to Germany.-.-
Transocean News Service
to Italy.
H. M. S. Cumberland, dagship Halle
Bank Of Ethiops
London, May 15. Selasale has no legal
British Wireless.
and
BUSMEN CARRY OUT DEMONSTRATION
London, May 15."
While the delegate conference
of bus strikers was in 'session yes-
side the building.
of the China Squadron, bound for rights in matters connected with Nanking with Admiral Bir Charles liquidation of the former Bank of terday, busmen demonstrated out- Little on board, went aground at Ethiopia, according to a decision 6.26 a.m. on the north bank of passed in the courts yesterday. the Yangtze River near Chin The ruling states that in view
The men carried large placards kiang.
of de facto recognition of the announcing that work would not The mishap followed the an- Italian Government In Ethiopia, by be resumed until a seven and a choring of the Cumberland during the British Government last De half hour day was granted. a fog
#cember, the liquidation, committee The demonstrators also appeal-
Liu Lu-yin is charged with com- Moscow, May 15-A direct air plicity in the murder of General line between Moscow and Stock- Yang Yung-tai, Governor of. Hu-holm will be opened on July 1 at high water- peh.
Transooran News Berviez,
Reuter
She was refcated at 9.45 am. appointed by the Italian Governed to the tramwaymen to fom the
ment had also been recognised strike- Transvocan News Bervice.
Transocean News Service.