1938-12-24 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 24, 1938

JAPANESE

MILITARY

"INCOMPETENCE" IN WAR

Greatest Surprise Of Sino-Jap. Hostilities

Change Of Policy By Third Powers Foreseen

London, To-day.

The greatest surprise of the war has been Japan's military incompetence, says the "Spectator," discussing the Sino-Japanese situation.

The magazine quotes the distinguished American journalist, Edgar Mowrer, who in his new book on China asserts that in the eyes of all ex- pert foreign observers, including General

-AMERICAN-

AID TO CHINA

New York, To-day.

Discussing the dealings arising from the credits granted last week by the Export and Import Bank, the "New York Times" says that 1,000 two and a half ton lorries will be purchased from the General Motors Corporation and the Chrysler Corporation for shipment to the Chinese Govern- ment,

The amount involved is appro- ximately U.S.$1,000,000,-Reuter.

Falkenhayn, former German miliary adviser REJECTION OF

to Nanking, Japan's conduct of the war de-

SHARP CHINESE

REJECTION OF KONOYE

"PEACE OFFER"

CHUNGKING, TO-DAY. THE JAPANESE PREMIER KONOYE'S STATEMENT ON JAPAN'S POLICY TOWARD · CHINA IS BITTERLY CRITI- CISED BY A SPOKESMAN OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

The spokesman says he sees no difference between what was ex- pounded by Premier Konoye in his statement and Japan's estab- lished policy. toward China, which

is one of infringing

prives her of any right to be regarded as a first- NAZI DEMARCHE China's sovereignty.

class military power

Whether this is true or not, says the paper, it is indisputable that for eighteen months of the war, Japan, in spite of victories, failed to bring a miserably equipped China to her knees."

has

ill-

In the immensely rich south- western provinces the Government is organising a new state which will be the tore of the new China.

FOREIGN POLICY

British and American policy has been based on two assumptions, which were originally hard to doubt.

NEW CRISIS IN

FRANCO-ITALAIN ISSUE FEARED

ANGERS BERLIN

New York, To-day.

The refusal of the United States Government to apologise for the anti-Nazi speech of the Secretary of Interior, and the lat ter's recent speech, have found OF THE support from many Democratic

LONDON, TO-DAY.

REPUDIATION

FRANCO-ITALIAN AGREE. Senators. MENT OF 1935 BY ITALY, WHICH IT WAS UNDERSTOOD The first was that in war, Japan, LATE LAST NIGHT HAS BEEN

resources, with her inadequate would welcome at least foreign com- OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED TO mercial activity in China; the war has shown that every added strain FRANCE, FINDS A GRIM RES- on Japan makes it more and more PONSE IN THE PRESS. necessary that she exploit China to her own exclusive advantage.

ASSUMPTIONS DISPROVED The second, was that since Japan must win an easy and inevitable victory, there could be no purpose in opposing her.

Both these assumptions have been decisively disproved, and the oppor- tunity has been created for revision of British and American policy. Reuter.

While professing respect for China's sovereignty, the spokesman pointed out, Japan insists on carry- ing on military operations in China and establishing bogus governments. she Again, while declaring that

territorial ambition in has no China, Japan demands that: Japan- ese troops be stationed in Chinese territory, and that inner Mongolia be marked out as a special The spokesman said that this only another way by which Japan hopes to realise her territorial am- bition in China. •

area. is

With regard to Japan's demand for freedom of residence and trade Senator Key Pittman has issued on the part of Japanese subjects in a personal statement that the Ameri- the interior of China, the spokes- can people did not like any dieta-man stated that this must be view- torial government, and that the ed in the light of Japan's true in- American people would not tolerate tention in China which is for econo- made by Germany mic penetration, making use of her any attacks against the American country and military force and the puppet gov- ernments. Such a method of econo- its leaders.

been In Berlin, says a despatch from mic penetration has already

tested by Japan in Manchuria. the Nazi capital, official Nazi quar-| The step is regarded as the ters decline to comment on the Unit- Japan's declaration that she does first move in what may prove to ed States refusal to apologise for not intend to exercise an economic be a new crisis designed to en- the speech. sure that the Italian claims will be the main subject of Mr. Ne- ville Chamberlain's conversations-

It is understood, however, that tiona unfavourable attitude to- in Rome in January, any idea of

If one locks into the which it has been the news- the refusal is taken very seriously ward her. papers' concern to refute by the German Foreign Office, where present conditions in Manchuria, and Reuter. it forms the subject of careful de- Japan's disregard of the interests throughout the week.

of third Powers in China during

will at the the past year, one

once realise the falsity of the declara- tion, the spokesman concluded, Central News.

OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION

Rome, To-day.

It is officially confirmed that the Italian Government in a letter dated December 17 addressed to M.

BELGIAN DEFENCE Francois-Poncet, French Ambas-

PROGRAMME

BRUSSELS, TO-DAY.

THE BELGIAN CHAMBER,

BY 117 VOTES TO 10, YES-

TERDAY ADOPTED THE

AERIAL DEFENCE BILL,

sador to Rome, har cancelled the Italian French agreement.. of Jnuary 7, 1986.-Trans-Ocean;

PAN-AMERICAN

COST OF WHICH AMOUNTS COURT OF JUSTICE

TO £4,250,000.

Credits under the Bill will devoted mainly to provision of anti- aircraft guns.

be

der which the

The measure carries a clause un-

Government

must

Lima, To-day.

The Pan-American Conference yesterday passed unanimously project for study of a statute

8

of

Reuter.

court of justice-Reuter.

give account of the progress of air establishment of an inter-American precaution work by April 80.

TAKEN SERIOUSLY

liberation.

describe

Political quarters development as an act "wantonly

seeking conflict with Germany.". Reuter.

monopoly in China nor to limit the interests of third Powers in China- cannot be trusted. It is made at this juncture to calm the interna-

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