1938-01-24 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 24, 1988.

BEHIND CHINA

NEGOTIATIONS

Definite Reply On Vaguest Terms

FACTS PEACE Pressure For

AIR ATTACK ON MADRID BEATEN OFF

Madrid, To-day,

Shortly before noon

yesterday

three insurgent planes attempted to reach Madrid but were driven off by anti-aircraft guns.........

PRINCESS

JULIANA

Soestdijk, To-day.

Birth of Princess Juliana's baby was not expected last night, ac cording to information received. from the Palace at 7-o'clock.

It was stated that the Princess was perfectly well and cheerful.— Reuter.

VON BLOMBERG'S DAUGHTER TO WED

It was the first time for many months that insurgent planes nave

Berlin, To-day. appeared over Madrid.

The engagement is announced of Reports have come in of insur-Miss Dorothy Von Blomberg, young- War gent air raids on Republican towns est daughter of the Reichs

Minister, Field-Marshal Von Blom- Karl berg, to Cavalry Lieutenant be-Heinz Keitel, son of General Keitel who occupies a high position in the tween France and Republican, Spain War Ministry where he is said to in the Eastern Pyrenees has been be Field-Marshal Von Blomberg's entirely interrupted.-Trans-Ocean.]"right hand" man. Trans-Ocean.

all down the Catalan coast.

Meanwhile, frontier traffic

CHINESE TROOPS BREAK LULL ON ICE-BOUND LUNGHAI RAILWAY FRONT

Shanghai, To-day.

Official St

Expected To Be Issued

Hankow, To-day.

Widespread rumours, both at home and abroad, that the Chinese Government has been secret- ly negotiating with Japan for peace, should finally be set at rest, in the opinion of official circles here, by publication in Berlin and Tokyo of details of Germany's part as mediator and by Mr. Koki Hirota's disclosure of Japan's four basic conditions for peace.

Before submission of these basic conditions, it is learned from a usually well-informed source, Japan submitted certain proposals to the Chin- ese Government, “but changed her mind and practically reversed them before a reply could be given.

The basic conditions, it is stated, were presented towards the end of December, and Japan pressed for a definite reply either accep- tance or rejection.

The Chinese Government con- sidered these conditions pre- sented as "being too vague or too all-embracing, and as being susceptible, without further de- tails, to the widest possible in- terpretation.”

DOOR CLOSED

National Government, "thereby

ITALIAN CONQUEST IN ABYSSINIA

London, Yesterday. That the problem of recogni

Then, on Jan. 16, the Japanese tion of Italian sovereignty over Chinese troops have broken the lull on the front in Government issued its declaration Abyssinia will be dealt with in the south-west Shantung, claiming that as a result withdrawing recognition from the forthcoming session of the League of a surprise attack, to have recaptured Liang-closing the door to further negotia Council is doubted by the diplo- matic correspondent of the "Daily siatien, south of Yenchow, on the Tientsin-tions."

Telegraph," who bases his con Pukow Railway.

clusion on the fact that the at- titude of Great Britain and the United States has not changed.

The Chinese are also attacking towards Tsining, whence the Japanese are seeking to cut the Lunghai Railway, described as China's jugular vein."

WUHU RAIDS

Hankow, To-day. Vernacular reports from Shang- hai state that Chinese planes bomb- ed the Japanese forces at Wuhu Sporadic clashes have occurred last night resulting in heavy casual- in the neighbourhood of Pengpu, ties among the Japanese troops." 75 miles north of Nanking.

Fires are raging in Wuhu itself, Chinese planes twice raided according to the same report, which Wuhu, but the Japanese deny add that the Chinese entry to the that any damage was done or ca- town is expected any moment. sualties inflicted.-Reuter.

Chinese guerillas, it is also claimed, were active in Pootung BATTLING IN yesterday, where martial law is en-

FROST

forced.

The sound of gun-fire could faint- ly be heard in Shanghai yesterday coming from Pootung. Our Own Correspondent.

PROGRESS CLAIMED

Shanghai, Yesterday. The Japanese have resumed

Shanghai, To-day. Battling in bitterly cold wea- ther over the frozen countryside, Chinese and Japanese soldiers are locked in brisk engagements! in the northern and southern sectors. *of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, according to Chinese their advance northwards along reports.

the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, ac- Because of the weather condi-cording to a Japanese communi- tions, the Japanese troops are stated to » have curtailed the offensive, and are concentrating A column of Japanese troops, h is striking north from on consolidating ground gained. | which

Meanwhile, Chinese troops are Fakow, has already covered

and has reported to have made several distance of 60 miles

reached Mingkwang. determined attacks for the

pur-

que.

ย

of the Soyeda pose of dislodging Japanese Vanguard units from Chaohsien, the ad- Brigade is stated to have pressed vance base of the southward on to Linhuankwan, some eight

further north, drive of the Japanese, but with miles out success, -Reuter.

Océan

Trans-

The Chinese press here pu- blished the text of Mr. Hirota's four basic conditions without comment, but the Chinese Gov- ernment, it is understood, is shortly issuing an official state- ment on the subject.

It is believed that the general Mr. Chen Po-sen, formerly Tokyo attitude of the United States correspondent of the official Cen-will have a decided Influence on tral News Agency, in a leading ar- the inclinations of other coun- ticle published in the "Ta Kung tries.

That t the British Government Pao," said that Japan was facing a very grave financial and economic has also remained firm in its posi- situation, and predicted that tion is indicated by the rejection grave complications are bound to of the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville follow in Japan if China is able to Chamberlain, of the former Bel- for six gian Premier, M. Van Zeeland's continue her resistance months more.”- -Reuter.

attempt to mediate between Eng- land and Italy in order to arrange a settlement of the Abyssinian question.

SOVIET'S NINETY SUBMARINES

VLADIVOSTOCK

AT

Tokyo, To-day. Great prominence is given in the press to reports that the Soviet submarine fleet in Vla- divostock now numbers 90 units, following an addition of eighteen submarines shipped to the East from Sebastopol Dec. 12.

COLD SHOULDER

The paper

intimated that the recent endeavours made by Italy in Rome and in London to bring about an Anglo-Italian rapproch- ment through the new exchange of opinions has been received in London with more or less a cold shoulder.

The paper emphasises, in con- clusion, the often repeated sta

eke, ment of the past several on

namely that in dealing with all fundamental questions pertaining to the

momentary international situation, the British Government is maintaining the closest contact with the Government of the Unit- ed States of America Ocean

The reports add that addi- tional submarines are now un- der construction at Vladivos- tock and Khabarovsk, while it is stated that new naval bases are also being created in Soviet Far Eastern waters. Reuter-

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