OF PEACE OVERTURES
Request For Definition
Chiang's
TROOPS
IN CONTROL
OF CANTON
Canton, To-day. Canton awakened to an atmosphere of uncer- tainty this morning.
There is still no information to explain the tension but soldiers
with fixed bayonets at present are patrolling the streets all over the city. The telephone service in Canton has been disrupted. Router.
-
The city is full of the most sen-
Obstinate Attitude Of "Chungking"
Authorities
Tokyo, To-day.
Following the occupation of Nanking, Japan was informed by Germany of the Chungking Gov- ernment's readiness to open peace negotia-
Of Terms
JAPANESE- CASUALTY FIGURES
Tokyo, To-day.
The War Minister announced in the Lower House yesterday that -the Japanese troops killed in China to date totalled approxim- ately 20,000.—-Reuter. ⠀
tions, the Foreign Minister, Mr. Koki Hirota, CHEFOO
told the Diet in a lengthy review of the abor- tive efforts to bring the dispute to an end. Ever since comencement of the conflict, he said, the Government had given the Chungking admin-
GRENADE
istration every opportunity to reconsider its INCIDENT
atitude.
sational rumours including the Mr. Hirota declared that neither the League of Na-
suggestion that internal political trouble is behind developments.
It is believed now, however, that the Canton authorities, apprehen- sive of an early attack on South China, are in the throes of a spy scare, which explains the extraor- dinary activities of the military au-
tions nor the signatories of the Nine-Power Pact had anything to do with the current dis- pute, and Japan had insisted on direct nego- tiation with China.
He added that this conviction would not any longer deal with the
thorities. Our Own Correspondent. had been communicated by the National Government, on January
BOOM. CLOSED
Government to Britain, the Unit-16.” It is learned from authoritative ed States and other Powers. quarters that the Canton River A few of the last had kept the boom was closed during the night Japanese Government informed General and that the passage of river ship of the views held by ping is now impossible.
Chiang Kai-shek's administra- tion.
י.
No steamers sailed from Hong Kong for either Canton or Kong- moon this morning, although the wharves were crowded with
TOHOKAI ATTITUDE
:
Shanghai, To-day. -According to Japanese-re- ports, an incident marked the assumption of authority by the Japanese at Chefoo yes- terday, when a Chinese po- liceman, one of the force that was being disarmed, threw a hand grenade Japanese soldiers.
at
The man was shot dead on the spot, and the missile caused no damage.
Otherwise, the same reports state, disarming of Chefoo's 800 police- Mr. Yutani, of the reactionary men and their disbandment, proceed- Tohokai Party,, then suggested that ed without a hitch. the Government should not have Japanese sentries are now post- OBSTINATE STAND: conducted peace talks while troops ed at each street corner, and Ja- were engaged in severe clashes with panese soldiers have occupied all Mr. Hirota continued: "China, the Chinese forces.
official Chinese buildings, - încluding sengers and their luggage, slowly however, assumed a strong and
Mr. Hirota replied that at the the Customs, taxation office, Cen- trickling away at 11.30 a.m. al-obstinate stand," and, declining time troops were fighting, China, tral Bank of China and the Bank though many still stayed in the hope to enter into direct negotiations according to information supplied of Communications. Japanese flags with Japan, appealed to the to Japan by Germany, was main-are now flying above these offices. something would occur
"League and the Nine-Power sig-taining a strong attitude.-Renter. to enable them to sail after all.
ONE DESTROYER
natories.
that
pas-
The s.s. Taming, which arrived in Hong Kong late last night, re- ported that the only Japanese war ship now to be seen in the delta is destroyer No. 16, which is cruising in the vicinity of Sampanchau.
Japan, through the good offices of the German Government, then informed the Chungking admin- istration of the conditions which she would discontinue operations "if China wished for peace."
on
CHIANG'S REQUEST
General Chiang Kai-shek - asked
.
SHIPPING STOPPED The Naval authorities in Hong Kong have received information from the West River patrol to the effect that the Chinese military au- for an explanation of these terms thorities are guarding the Beding Field Barrier which is just north of Bocca Tigris, and will allow no shipping-to-pass.
and received it, but "China failed. to demonstrate her desire for peace on the conditions offered by this. country. Hong Kong bound ships which left the Kwangtung capital "Germany's mediation was thus this morning have returned to Can-set at naught, and the Government ton.
was obliged to announce that
All
Another Experimental Black-Out To Be Held In Hong Kong
it
The "China Mail" has been given be visible from the air. It is like
ly that the blackout will extend
to understand that a further experi over a period of four hours, "pro- "mental "blackout" will be held some-bably from 7p.m. to 11 p.m.
time towards the end of this month or in the early days of March.
As in the last
greatest care is being
to
sure, as near as possible, that
It is considered highly probable that greater stringency will be ob- served with lights on vehicles. the Whereas, official circles were high- lights, in-ly satisfied with building
-Reuter.
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during the last blackout, it по considered that vehicular lights illuminations of any description will were not sufficiently dim.
Hong Kong.
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