1939-05-17 — Page 9

41

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

Former Line Of Policy Maintained

Soviet's Reply To British

Counter-Proposals

LONDON, May 16 (Reuter)-The Russian reply to the British counter-proposals reached London yester- day." It is being deciphered and will be studied by Lord Halifax and Foreign Office experts to-day,

The reply is expected to come before the Cabinet to-morrow.

NO HINT OF NEXT MOVE

IN DANZIG

A message from Moscow

states that while nothing is

revealed there, it is under- stood that the Soviet answer. to the British counter-pro- posals follows the line of the recent editorial in the "Izvestia," which apparently BERLIN, May 16 (Reuter)-pursued by the U.S.S.R.

sets forth the policy, firmly While there are still no hints) on the next move in the Dan- zig question, the press steadi- ly maintains its insistence that the alleged anti-German influence in Poland, speaks of, "Poland's nervousness and difficulties arising from her continual mobilization" and still publishes allegations of Polish terrorism.

POPE'S INITIATIVE LONDON, May 16 (BWS)-Mr. R. A. Butler. Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said in the House of Commons that he had no state- ment to make on the reported initiative by the Vatican,

NOT RECIPROCAL · The editorial referred to above, commented on the fact that the Anglo-French

proTM posals made to the Soviet were not reciprocal and that Russia, by reason of her geographical position, would have to bear the brunt of the battle in the event of Rumania and Poland being attacked.

4

The writer, however, went" on to state that the Soviet. would be willing to negotiate for a mutual defence treaty. with the Western Powers.

PREMIER QUESTIONED LONDON. May 16 (Reuter)-In the House of Commons yesterday. Mr. Butler went on: "As mem- replying to a number of questions bers will doubtless have seen in seeking information on the Anglo- the press. His. Hollness has not Russian negotiations, the Prime made any formal proposals, but I Minister said that the Government can assure the House that His was awaiting a further communica- Majesty's Government are natural:tion from the Soviet and that he ly most sympathetic to any steps could not amplify his previous .which His Holiness may think statements.

сап usefully be

taken with I Mr. Chamberlain added that view to furthering the interests of Lord Halifax hoped to have the world peace."

CONSCRIPTION BILL

The Liability Of

$

Employers

opportunity of pursuing the con- versations with Soviet representa- tive in Geneva.

Under a barrage of supple- mentary questions, Mr. Cham- berlain maintained the post- tion that negotiations were not facilitated by discussions at intermediary stages and refused further particulars.

JAPANESE CARGO BOAT NOW

AIR BASE An even

more interesting story from the crew. of "the Haitan concerns

former Japanese cargo boat, the Sin- chuen Maru, which is reported naw to be in Amoy harbour improvised to serve as nöthing less than an aircraft carrier! Detalls are offered to the affect that the former cargo vessel now serves as a base for 12 planes.

CAUTIOUS

MR. BUTLER

NON - COMMITTAL REPLIES IN HOUSE

THE MONOTONY WITH

CABLES

•

THEIR MAJESTIES LAND

IN QUEBEC TO-DAY

No Material Change

In Programme

OTTAWA, MAY 16 (REUTER)-IT WAS AN- NOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THEIR MAJESTIES THE KING AND QUEEN WILL LAND IN QUEBEC TO-MORROW AT 10.30 AM. LOCAL TIME.

Apart from a curtailment of their stay in Ottawa, no material change is being made in the programme. Reuter's special representa-; tive on board the Empress of Australia reports that yester- day the King watched an aeroplane being catapulted from the cruiser Southamp- ton to survey the ice condition in the St. Lawrence.

WHICH MR. E. A. BUTLER, "The liner, at 3 p.m. (British UNDER-SECRETARY FOR FOR-Standard Time), was of Platt's AFFAIRS, REPLIES TO Point, roughly 668 miles from Quebec and was speeding steadily

EIGN

to

him

by

on

GOOD WEATHER

QUESTIONS «put member's

ahead at 19 knots since she ran of Parliament matters relating to China and the clear of the ice yesterday. unwarranted action of the Japan-i ese authorities, have lately been commented apon and even found expression in cartoons.

During Monday's meeting of the House of Commons, a number of questions were levelled at the Under-Secretary and in every case his replies were as non-committal as ever.

almost

CUSTOMARY REPLIES Here are examples of his own well-known phrases:"

Japanese Re-'.. strictions on Traffic on the Yangtze:-- "Discuss! ons

the sub

"Ject are pro- ceeding with the competent Japanese au- thorities."

Anti- British

Everybody was in the best of spirits and it was now certain that the liner would reach Quebec in good time to carry out to-morrow's as arranged.

11

programme

Gibraltar As Gift To Franco!

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1939 -PAGE 9

THE

HONG KONG

PENINSULA HOTAL;

KONGKONG HOTEL; BEPULSE BAY HOTEL;

B

SHANGHAI

ASTOR HOUSE; PALACE HOTEL;

HOTELS LIMITED,

In association, with the Grand Hotel des Wagons Lies, Peking,

HEAVY JAPANESE LOSSES IN HUPEH: STALEMATE IN SHANSI FIGHTING

اين

COMMUNIST M.P.'S SARCASM

CHUNGKING, May 16 (Reuter)--The Japanese claims that over twenty Chinèse divisions are trapped in Hupeh and threatened' with annihilation are declar- ed to be entirely groundless by a military' spokesman.' He stated that the extensive area and the difficult "terrain belled the claims of the Japanese, who have too few troops to surround a large Chinese force. Actually the **Japanese The Japanese occupying, various suffered considerable losses in points to the east of the Tatung- Hupeh... Their right wing lost Puchow Railway. southern 1,000 killed, a division in the Shansi, are closed watched by the centre was decimated and the Chinese. The 20th Japanese Divi- Horiuchi Detachment on the ston has suffered heavy losses dur- left

ing recent engagements. At Antseh wing

effectively checked and its chief of staff and Foshan, two of the mest im- killed.

portant towns there, the Japanese are occupying the towns only while all the surrounding points

was

CHINESE SUCCESSES

in

SHASI, May 18 (Central)-With are under Chinese control. Japan- the assistance of armed Chinese ese drives castward from Hung- civilians Chinese forces have re- tung have been successfully re- gained Lishan, a town in East Hu- pulsed, by the Chinese. peb.

The King strolled on the pro-

LONDON, May 16 (Reuter)—A menade deck, enjoying the Arstery of "Shame" from the Labour day of good weather since the ship benches and

sarcastic query sailed.

from the Communist member, Mr. W. Gallacher, asking whether the British Government would consi- der handing over Gibraltar as a triumphal gift, greeted Mr. R. A. Butler's

announcement

the House of Commons yesterday, in reply "If the present Ane run and Spanish Government had invited to a question. that the brilliant sunshine continues, the the British Ambassador to attend liner expects to reach the penin- Gen. France's Victory Parade in sula, roughly 475 miles

from Madrid and that the invitation Quebec, at 10 am. to-day.

The Royal Liner will sall up the

had been accepted. St. Lawrence by the North, Chan-

INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE nel and anchor of the Island of Replying to numerous supple Orleans below Quebec at 4 a.m.mentary questions, Mr. Butler ex- to-morrow. The Canadian des-plained that other accredited re- Yokow, 70 miles above Hankow, troyers, Skeena and Saguenay are presentatives In Spain had also has also been recaptured by Cht- expected to meet the liner at 9.45 been invited to the Parade. It was nese forces which have crossed the (B.S.T.) to-night.

In accordance with international river. The Japanese are retreat- practice for foreign representatives ing. to Tienmen, north-east of Yo- yesterday. to accept invitations of this char-kow, with the Chinese pursuing

Canada acter.

Extremely heavy damage has IN SOUTH HUPER

again been done to the southern sector of the Tatung-Puchow Rall- PINGKIANG, HUPEH, May 16 way. Large numbers of rats to the (Central) A Chinese unit re-north and south of Chaocheng occupied "Mayehshan, a hill south-have been torn up and the all- west of Tayeh, on May 13, slaying way bridges near Hwohsien, Lin- some 100 Japanese. The remnant fen. and other points have been Japanese troops have fled to Ta-wrecked.

KING'S PLEASURE

A later message from Reuter's

U.S. AIR BASES

them.

yeh.

On the

The Japanese have dispatch- ed 1,000 reinforcements from Linfen to Chungyang, Lishih and Tawu. They are believed to be preparing for a west- ward drive to"Linlin, west of Lishih.

SHANSI TOWN TAKEN same day a Japanese) vanguard mit pushed toward Pa- SIAN, May 16 (Central)-Tung- sha and Yenhochlao, south-east of huschen, west of Wanchuan, in Wuchang. They slew about 200 southwest Shansi, has reverted to Japanese and captured a quantityChinese control. new

The Japanese of Japanese military supplies,

there were almost entirely wiped out as STALEMATE IN SHANSI

result of a Chinese "annihilating" attack. tral-A stalemate exists in Shan-a HİNGTSI, SHANSI, May 16 (Cen-

CANADIAN PLANES During luncheon three aeroplanes from Propaganda by Mr. R. A. Butter

circled over the ship. The after-i Later Mr. J. J. Davidson (Lab) Japanese in China: The situa-noon was spent in skirting the sought to move an adjournment tion will continue to be watched snowclad slopes of Newfoundland, motion, but the Speaker ruled out and, if necessary, representations far away to starboard,

the motion on the grounds that will be made."

The liner rocked, and vibrated it was not a matter of urgency. Japanese Excavating for Sub-when the two accompanying] marine Base in Yulinkant: cruisers exploded depth charges in "There had been a report to that the afternoon. sending spurts of effect, but so far it has not receiv-water into the air. ed official confirmation. The ques-

IN CARIBBEAN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS tion of taking steps" to investigate LONDON. May 18 (BWS)-In the report is at present under con- correspondent aboard the Empress Porto Rico will become the centre

SAN JUAN, May 16 (Reuter) addition to a number of supplemen-sideration" tary questions from members on Seizure of British steamer Sa- sent the following message to the according

of Australia stated that the King of defence for the Caribbean Sea. both sides of the House who ingres:-"I will certainly take steps Canadian destroyers, Skeena and United States Chief of Staff, who

Gen. Marshall, dicted a desire to see a rapid and to investigate the matter."

Saquenay: successful "issue to the Anglo-

"It gives me great has arrived here to select sites for Wholesale Massacre of Civi-pleasure, Ruasian talks, Mr. Chamberlain

on entering Canadian advance air bases. Gen. Marshall tians in Chungking: Strong re-waters, to be greeted by my Cana-sald that the development of the answered a question relative to the presentations had been made....dian Navy. I thank you for your aeroplane had attitudes of Poland and Rumania

put Porto Rico towards these negotiations, which

matters will receive con-welcome and congratulate you on where it was in the sixteenth the said were well-known to the

the fine appearance of your ships." century. British Government though they had not been given formal shape.

He insisted that it would be in- Mr. A, T. Lennox-Boyd, Partia appropriate for him to disclose mentary Secretary to the Ministry these views, all the more since the of Labour, announced that the recent visits of M. Potemkin to Government intended to arrange Bucharest änd Warsaw would have that militiamen returning from given an opportunity for an ex- military service and not obtaining change of views between the Soviet work, should receive unemploy- representative and the two Gov- ment benefit,

LONDON, May 16 (Reuter)- In the House of Commons yesterday, the committee stage. of the Military Training: Bill accepted an Opposition Tabour amendment providing that an employer's liablHty to pay a maximum of four weeks salary, if they did not reinstate a man returning from military service. should extended to twelve weeks' salary.

ernments.

Japanese Action In Shanghai

SIR CLARK KERR AND ADMIRAL

SHANGHAI, May 16 (Reuter)- The British Ambassador to China, Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, will leave Chungking by air for Kun- ming on his way back to Shanghai | on May 19,

Admiral Sir Percy Noble, Com- mander-in-Chief of the China Station, arrived at Amoy to day and is due at Foochow to-morrow.

Resented

MU PAL

PROTEST

Arrest Of Five

Chinese

-Such

sideration.

WHOLESALE MASSACRE OF CIVILIAN

CEYLON ORDERS

STEEL FROM

BRITISH FIRM

LONDON, May 10 (Reuter)-A British firm has received an order for £1,000,000 steel for aeroplane hangars in Ceylon.

The Royal Mail, Steamship Com-

POPULACE

Collective Protests Urged

pany has placed an order for tour COMMONS, REACTION

TO AIR RAIDS IN CHUNGKING

cargo steamers of about 8,000 tona each, for the South American run with Messrs. Harland and. Wolte, Belfast.

HUAHSING BANK STATEMENT ON NOTE CIRCULATION

SHANGHAI, May 16 (T/Ocean) On the occasion of the inaugu ration of note circulation by the newly-founded. Huahing Com SHANGHAI, MAY 16 (REUTER)mercial Banka statement was COUNCIL HAS SENT A LETTER TO the object of placing the new notes. issued on Tuesday morning that THE SENIOR CONSUL drawing the attention of the Consular

on the market was not to under- Body to the arrest on May 9 of mine the Chinese National cur- rency. It is intended rather to

He will arrive in HMS. Birming-THE- SHANGHAI

ham at Shanghai on May 19.

It is learned that no British bluejackets were landed on Kulange.

18D. DAILY FOR MILITIAMEN

&

MUNICIPAL

the

4

LONDON, MAY 26 (REUTER) IN THE HOUSE OF COM- MONS YESTERDAY, MI. ARTHUR HENDERSON (LAB) asked whether with the object focussing world opinion methods of warfare

of

upon

NO EXPORT LICENCES FOR WAR MATERIAL

LONDON, May 16 (Reuter)-No Licences have been issued for the export of, war material stace February 4, 1938, said Mr. Oliver Stanley, President of the Board of

sl.

MIDDLESEX REGT, CELEBRATE

"clearing up" operation near The Chinese are now engaged in

Yungho, further west.

HOME CRICKET

Matches Abandoned Owing To Rain

398; Cam.

"(Colatinued from Page 1) league, who received medals: Pte.. Moran and L/C. Fox, who won the heavy weight and light heavy

LONDON, May 16 (Reuter-The weight boxing belts presented by cricket match between Cambridge Sub-Inspector Hallam of the and Middlesex was abandoned as Hongkong Police; the Sergeants' a draw owing to rain. Mess, who received Sub-Inspector Scores:-Middlesex Hallam's Cup in recognition of the bridge 244 for 8 (Thompson 133 Unit Boxing. Hongkong, two years Regiment having won the Inter-not out).

At Lords, the match between the running,

M. C. C. and the West Indies was. also abandoned as a draw. The M. C. C. had scored 435 for 7 while

Other lunch scores to-day were as follows:

Hampshire 259 for 6 v. Warwick 163 (no play); Lancashire 139

C/Sgt. (ORS) Hale,

who re-

Trade, in the House of Commons ceived the H.K. Rifle Association's the West Indies, did not bat.

Steers" Cup; the

to-day when he was asked by Mr.

Headquarters Robert Morgan Procter whether Company, winners of the inter- such material, as was being ex-

unit hockey shield; and the HQ. ported to. Japan, was capable of

Coy. again, winners of the Coy.

being used in bombing operations, Match (Rifle; HK' Area); and for. 5 v. Somerset 372 for 8. dec.:

such as

carried

was now being on against civilian populations in China

countries."

which entalled the wholesaleunes had been made to the Japan massacre of civilian popala. ere by the Ambassadors of other tions, the "Government would consider approaching

other. zovégziments to organize col- lective representations to the Japanese in favour of absten- flon from such aerial attacks as had been made on Chung- king?

A

Sgt A. Overy and Cpl. C. Ellis, winners of the Tidbury Cup, pre sented by Brigadier Tidbury for efficiency and fitness..

Bussen 391 for 9 dec Nottingham- Leicester 229 and 129 for 4-V." shire 489 for 7 dec. y. Glamorgan- abire 105 for 5; Yorkshire 169 and

At noon, after the taking of an 171 for 9 dec. v. Kent 100 and 118 Officers' photo, the Sergeants for

NEW CONGRESS PARTY IN INDIA

CALCUTTA May 16 (T/Ocean)

visited the Officers Mess, when Sub-Inspector Hallam was also a guest of the Mess. In the even- Mr. Henderson: Would it not being, the Officers returned the viaft. possible, for the League Council to

The afternoon and early even- consider the question and the re- solution similar to that passed bying was occupied by a Fun Fair the Assembly last September?

organised and run efficiently by the ranks, and a Band Concert.The Left Wing of the All-Indian Mr. Butler; Such matters will The Officer Commanding made a National Congress at a session receive consideration, but an in- tour of the fair, presenting prizes presided over by Subhas Chandra Itiative in that sense would be to the holders of the best stalls: Bose, decided to form a new party necessary.

MEMANG BEKOMMEN within the Congress,

Last, Friday, an Albuhera Dance given by the Corporals at the now compelled to relinquish the prest

Bose, who had recently been. lecture hall at Shumshulpo proved dency over the Congress, under a great success. This Friday the pressure by Gandhi, explained be Sergeants will also give an Al-fore a mass mbeting of 30,000 buhera Dance On Thursday followers on Monday afternoon Battalion Sportsmen's Dinner will why the Left Wing of the Con- tress decided to form a separate | party

five Chinese by Japanese Gendar- alleviate the present tightness on inerie at

restaurant in

Mr. B.A. Butler, Under-Secretary the money market and Huahsing Settlement,

notes are exchangeable at par for for Foreign Affairs, replying and LONDON, May 18 (Reuter)-It

The letter describes this as a Chinese currency or foreign ex-that the British Ambassador in

NO REPLY RECEIVED is announced that the payment recently reached that only the

breach of the understanding change..

Tokyo, Sir Robert Cralgie, had

PLY RECEIVED for new militiamen during the Shanghai Municipal Police may will open on May, 20 and other the Japanese, urging, from

The Nanking branch of the bank made strong representations to a reply yet been received from the Rev. RW. Borensen (Lab): Has months' training will be 18. daily

Mr. Butter: Not on this par-

Mr. R. J. Boothby (Con); be held. Have any special arrange- ments been made for the security of the British Embassy?

announced..

ticular matter. function independently in the branches have been planned for humanitarian point of view as Japanese Government?

ed military objectives.

instead of a shilling as previously settlement and emphasizes that various cities under Japanese con-well as in Japan's best interests, Legislation will be passed where-on" no occasion has police assis-trol which are now devoid of that stringent instructions be sent

to restrict air attacks to recogniz by any employers refusing to re-ance been refused when requested banking facilities. emply any man who had been for the purpose of investigating. under training must give twelve alleged acts weeks wages and will be able to a Ane of £50.

of terrorism

or DANISH XI WIN ́examining persons accused of being

AT SOCCER

connected with terrorist activities.

In this case no information 'was The Pusne Judge, Mr. Justice given to the Municipal Police R. E. Lindsell, is indisposed and is before the arrests and those a patient in the Queen Mary Hos-arrested were not handed over to

Dital.

the Municipal Police custody.

CIVILIAN CASUALTIES

Sir Robert Craigie had observed made it was pointed out that the Mr. Butler In the representations In the case of Chungking that he British Bobsesy was very nearly COPENHAGEN, May 16 (Reuter) was afraid that the camalties ap- The Danish international eleven peared to have been suffered it in the course of the raid.

defeated. "the Wanderers by three gnals to one element, Lora Halifax understood Wolverhampton almost excinalvely by the civilian in, a football match to-day; that representations on similar

U.S. FROTEST WASHINGTON, May 16 (Ret. tor)-Mr. Cordell Hall, 1.8

Secretary of State, announced yesterday that In reply to the recent protest by the United States Ambassador in, Tokyo, Japan had promised that her airmen would exercise all pos sible precautions to avoid in Juring non-combatants.

He declared that the situation demanded the formation of a bloc for the concentration of all anti- imperialist elements in India.

Four new Vatican City postage stamps commemorating the Coronation of Pope Pius XII WNI be issued on Ascention Day (TO)