1939-07-24 — Page 9

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HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

HARD FACTS OF SITUATION

IN NORTH CHINA

Danger Of Far Eastern Trap Realized

Military Preponderance Of The Japanese

LONDON, July 22 (Reuter)—After remarking that the communique Issued by the Japanese Foreign Office yes.erday suggests a slight improvement in the pros- pects of the Tokyo negotiations, "The Times," in a leading article this morning says:

the between

Japanese vivendi forces in the occupied portion of China and the authorities in these neutral conclaves.

that the Concessions "It would seem that the assurance proposals put forward since will remain neutral, and can in- by Mr. Arita (the Japanese vestigate the possibility of a modus Foreign Minister) last Sun- day have been modified, at "least in. their phrasing, since made It Chamberlain Mr. clear that Britain does not intend to change its foreign the dictation of, policy at foreign governments generals,

enormous

"At the same time it is necessary lo recognise the hard facts of the situation in North China, including the military prepon- derance of the Japanese in North China. their de facto the of military occupation chiet cities in that territory and their claim that the exis tence of foreign conclaves in that region should not militate against the security of their forces or those Chinese. whom they describe as their allies and others would call their clients.

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"The difficulty of Anding "a suitable formula for such an arrangement is obvious, especi- ally when it is remembered that the Japanese, occupy a region which is far from being pacified.

Far Eastern Trap. "Nevertheless there is no reason to put it past the skill of diplo- macy to find one, but this is all the British Government can do.

TOKYO TALKS

(Continued from Page 1) settlement of the general ques- tions forming the background of the Tentsin situation and added that the basic principle involved as a result of the settlement. was applicable to the whole of China and not limited to Tientsin alone.

BRITISH RIGHTS Referring to British rights and interests in China, Baron Hiranu- ma said that these might be re- cognized only Britain would recognize the relations of mutual ald and interdependence between Japan. "Manchukuo" and China.

Baron Hiranuma expressed

Britain" that the opinion would not assist Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's regime hy granting it credits or other- wise and added that if she did. her action would be re- garded as hostile to Japan.

If Britain refrained from grant- to Generalissimo credits ing Chiang Kai-shek's regime, that regime would be deprived "of the wherewithal for financing the purchase of munitions, through dealers willing to supply them. SHOCK TO CHUNGKING

The basic arrangement esta- blished between Japan and Britain would not only prove a big shock "They cannot be expected to to the Chungking Government, but sacrifice friends and principles in would serve as a favourable factor order to extricate the Japanese in disposing of the China Incident.

Baron Hiranuma sald that commanders from difficulties into

he trusted and expected the which their own miscalculations

take British Government to led them.

the necessary steps to bring home the spirit of the

new arrangement with Japan not only to the British authorities. in, China, but also to the British nation in general. ANTI-BRITISH MOVE

same

"At the

time they realise the dangers of walk- ing into a Far Eastern trap,"

"The Times" concludes by quot-. ing its Tokyo correspondent's re- mark that Tientsin "is a small sideshow in the world drama."

"BACKGROUND" "If this is all the Japanese mean

It is added that when the Jap- by British recognition of "back-

poanese militarists unleashed their ground," there' should be a sibility of finding a successful ap-attack on China, they made it cer- proach to detalled negotiations on tain that for at least a generation the fate of the Far East" would not the narrow issue of Tientsin.

"The British Government cah, be, determined in Nanking without loss of dignity, give an Tokyo.

PEACE DEVELOPMENT LOAN

BRITISH AND GERMAN DENIALS OF RUMOURS

But Door To Negotiation

Never Been Locked

LONDON, JULY 23 (REUTER)—THE BRITISH GOVERN- “MENT HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCHEME FOR A BIG PEACE DEVELOPMENT LOAN TO GERMANY IN RETURN FOR GERMANY CARRYING OUT A PROGRAMME OF DISARMA- MENT, WRITES THE DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT OF THE

SUNDAY TIMES."

Neither Mr. Neville Chamberlain nor Lord Halifax nor any other member of the Cabinet had any such proposals under con- sideration, much less communicated them to Herr Wohltat, when he was in London last week.

SLOVAKIA TURNS TOTALITARIANTM BRATISLAVA, July 22 (Reu- ter) The Slovak Parliament yesterday adopted a new con- "stitution turning the pountry

into a totalitarian State.

Wide powers are given the President who is both Foreign Minister and Commander-in- Chief of the armed forces,

An important aspect of Herr Wohltat's conversations in London, the correspondent adds, is that he could not fall to have had impress. ed on him the determination of the British Government and the people to resist aggression in Europe and to carry out, if the need arises, their pledges to Po- land. Rumania and Greece.

For the rest, the door to peaceful negotiation has never been locked, but only Germany can open it.

GERMAN DENIAL BERLIN, July 23 (Reuter)-Re- poris connecting the visit to Lon- don of Dr. Wohltat, Field-Marshal Goering's Beutenant, in carrying

out a Four-Year-Plan with an al-

Referring to the anti-British agitation in Japan, Baron Hltänu- ma said that the Government In- tended to control that campaign or which runs counter to its policy now that the Anglo-Japanese con- ference had made such progress,'

The Prime Minister added that the Japanese Government had a ready formulated its basic policy towards the European situation and would, therefore, pursue it. irrespective of the outcome of the Tokyo parley,

LONDON PRESS COMMENT

LONDON, July 23 (Reuter)-The news, exclusively from Japanese sources, that agreement had been reached between Sir Robert Craigle and Mr. Aris, was accompanied by a tendentious Japanese "com- ment, says the diplomatie corres- pondent of the "Observer."

This comment suggested, but did not state, that agreement was reached upon the Japan- ese terms and that the result would be disappointing tu China:

Although no message has been received from Bir Robert Craigle, It goes without saying that agree- ment can be reached only in con- learned that the discussions were tormity with "the instructions on concerned with questions of what ing and problems, connected with negotiating, the Evian Refugee Conference,

It is understood that, in the conversations dealing with emigra- tion and refugee questions, a far- reaching agreement of views had been obtained..

"PEACE-8GARE-

LONDON, July 23 (Reuter)— Every effort is being made by Ger. many to reduce the effect of yester.

which Sir Robert Craigie has been

The correspondent recalls that only last Monday, Mr. the Neville Chamberlain in House of Commons said that Britain would not, and could not, reverse her policy at the demand of another power. CAUTION "ADVISED The correspondent declares that

CABLES

AUSTRALIA - TIMOR AIR SERVICE PROPOSED

PORT DARWIN, July 23 (Router)-Official support for the proposal to open an Aus- tralian air service between Port Darwin and Deli, in Por- tuguese Timor, was obtained to-day by Mr. Fairbairn, the Minister of Civil Aviation, in negotiations with the Porta-

guese authorities at Dell

'Permission is now being sought from Lisbon to open the service with flying boats or land aircraft.

LOSING VENTURE

IN CHINA

LONDON, July 22 (Reuter) The view that Japan is begin- ning to realize that she is on a losing venture in China, was expressed by Mr. J. T. Ford, former Treasurer of the Shang-" hai Municipal Ciunell, on his his. arrival in London to-day to take up a financial appoint- ment in the City.

Mr. Ford declared: "Japan will regret her attack on China, She is deliberately trying to embroil Great Britain in the conflict to given her an excuse to get out of "Although there will be tremen- the whose thing. dous difficulties to contend with. think Great Britain should help I think Chins · will

her recover,"

recover.

BRITISH SHIP OFFICER RELEASED CHUNGKING: July 22 (Cen- tral)-It is reported that the Japanese authorities in Han-

have

C. kow

reler sed Mr. Winterbottom, Chief Officer of the British steamer Changsha, who was arrested on July 6 "for insulting behaviour."

NEW TROUBLE

(Continued from Page,1)

I

on a wall in the Western District was, interfered with by a Chinese constable. There was an altecra- tion and a British police officer was called to the scene.

The Japanese gendarmerie, also appeared and, in course of the subsequent "negotia- tions." kidnapped the officer and took him to the Japanese the Army Headquarters for West Shanghai Area where he was detained until 10.30 p.m.

He

released only urgent representations the Council authorities.

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from

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AGENTS OF "WANG News received last night by the Chinese Press states that the ter- rorists were agents of the Wang Ching-wel faction. To the diplo- matic and financial pressure which the Japanese have applied to force through their point of view at the Tokyo talks, they have now added a new proof of the nuisance value of their position along the coast-terrorist demon- strations,

It is reported that Im- mediately after the shootings on Saturday, the police arrest- ed a suspicious-looking Japan- ese who was loitering in the vicinity. He was handed over to the Japanese Consulate and. of course, released...

day's "peace scare" abroad and it is regarded in London as im

A Japanese war vessel is learned foreign office circles express the portant that opinion in Changking utmost astonishment and regret should not be misled by the Jap-to have been sunk during a at yesterday's "exaggeration and anese report designed precisely for Chinese air attack on Matsung misrepresentation."

They declare that a normal and unimportant statement was twisted by the foreign press into a peace offer imply. ing that Germany will not in eircumstances ug for any

Danzig. This is sarcastically rejected and It is declared that everyone should know that though Germany does not want war, Herr Hitler is deter mined to bring Danzig back into the Reich without a compromise.

NEW DUTCH CABINET

THE HAGUE, July 22 (Reuter)-

leged offer of a millard marks Dr. Colijn has accepted the task loan to Germany is denied in a of forming a new Cabinet. semi-official statement lasted to

It is stated that the new Gov-

the foreign press yesterday after-erament has already been formed,

1000

though further particulars are not

such a purpose, and he adds, that Island, opposite Saricho Island, on Mr. Chamberlain will be making a June 30. Another vessel was dis statement on the position on abled near Hopo. Island Monday.

The correspondent says that the Japanese version must be regarded partly as a normal manifestation of modern di plomatic method familiar both and In practice of "Berlin Tokyo by which a propagán- dist's objects are regarded as of great importance and ac- curacy of fact as of slight im- portance, and partly, perhaps, as a method of" encouraging. Japanese popular opinion not to recognize the real nature of the facts when they become known from official statements in London and Tokyo on Mon- day,

ALOOF U.S. ATTITUDE

WASHINGTON, July 23 (Reuter)

same day..

on the

BRITONS SPECIALLY WARNED

ANTI - BRITISH MOVEMENT

IN PEIPING

"PUPPET" MAYOR'S CURIOUS ATTITUDE PEIPING, Jaly 23 (Reuter)- The Japanese-appointed Mayor of Peiping has issued a special warn- ing to Britons concerning the anti-British movement in Peiping. He urges them to take the grea- -test care while walking on the

that and suggests

they streets discontinue to visit scene spots in Peiping and in the vicinity. In the same document, Mayor urges the extension of the movement and ap- anti-British peals to Chinese not to buy Bri- tish goods, not to work for Britons, to refuse to receive British educa- tion and to cancel Contracts for British goods.

•

the

urges Finally, the Mayor non-British foreigners to use their flags on their cars and on other vehicles they use and also on their residents, appar- ently with the idea of making Britons more conspicuous.

Little Progress The anti-British movement is smati

that

MONDAY, JULY 24, 1939. —PAGE 9

THE

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HONGKONG HOTEL; REFULAN BAY, HOWLĄ,

&

SHANGHAI

TOY HOUSE; PALACE HOTELI

HOTELS

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NATURE RUNS WILD

CLOUDBURST, FLOODS

THUNDERSTORMS

EXTENSIVE

DAMAGE OVER BRITAIN & CONTINENT

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LONDON, July 22 (Reuter)—Thunderstorms of almost tropi- cal intensity caused considerable damage in many parts of Bri- tain to-day. Houses were damaged by lightning in London and Flooded streets brought traffic in many towns in the provinces.

to a standstill in many towns in the Midlands, the West of Eng land and Wales.

.

"

Incessant rain flooded the tents of 2,000 Territorials under- Kolag their annual training a Okehampton, in Devum, and the men had to sleep in barns and other emergency accommodation. A school in Birmingham containing 350 children was struck by <lightning bat no-one was injured.

progress among the population however, stul making very and it is credibly reported

A cloudburst at Glasgow caused Mountain streams were coœwert- payment for those attending the extensive flooding of the south side ed into raging torrents, flooding

mass meetings was

the fields to a depth of three feet. anti-British

of the city. increased from 20 to 30 cents for

In Devon, torrential downpours Many cattle were drowned. each meeting in order to increase caused a sudden rise of 14 feet in the attendance.

the river level, flooding surround- ing villages.

Motor-Car Parade Though Streets

NATURE RUNS WILD Families bad to be rescued from their homes by ladders, and sever-

DELUGE IN N.E. TURKESTAN

ISTANBUL, July 22, (T/Ocean)—

NANKING, July 22 (T/Ocean)-|al men were seen swimming out Torrential rains have been pouring -

After a lecture on Anglo-Japanese relations by Lt-Col. Mabuchi, Director of the Army Press Bureau in Central China. 4,000 Japanese residents in Nanking this morning

of their own front doors.

Nature also ran wild on the tinent

GERMAN HARVEST

down for days in the region of Con-north-east Turkistan, and the de- luge has been particularly heavy at Erzerum.

Hail storms totally destroyed a

Damage is reported to have been

staged an anti-British mass meet-harvest area of 750 square miles widespread. Several bridges have in the Bavarian Alps. Germany's been swept away and various towns ing.

most important dairy region.

The meeting adopted a resola- tion condemning "British, practices detrimental to establishment of a new order in the Far East."

A parade in motor-cars through the streets of Nanking, during which anti-British handbills were distributed, closed the demon- stration.

FLOOD DISASTER

cat.of..

However, only eight lives have An accompanying whirlwind up- rooted big trees and took the roofs been lost, chiefly when houses col-

lapsed. off houses.

HITLER'S "PEACE"" MOVE!

Danzig Problem Capable

ICHANG. July 23 (Central)-A Of Solution Without War:

New German Statement

wide area under Japanese occupa-

inun tion in central Hupeh is dated as a result of breaches 'in the dykes along the Han River and the Tung Ching River. Tsien- klang, about 75 miles above Han- kow, is surrounded by water. The city is in Japanese hands.

BOMBING NEAR H.K. BORDER

(Continued from Page 1)

As soon as the news was known, rst aid workers were sent from

jured victima were Shumchun, and the 13 seriously in- Shumchun for treatment.

brought

to

AU TAU BOMBED Au Tau, in Chinese territory in Mirs Bay, was bombed by Japanese airman last Thursday, as the result of which three peisons were killed and numerous wounded.

One Japanese plane few over the village about 8 a.m. and released a bomb on the pier where a few fishing, junks were moored while a large number of fisherfolk were having their morning nical.

LONDON, July 22 (BWS)-Full prominence is given in the press to the observations of a Wilhelm- strasse spokesman that while Germany now, as pre- viously, insisted on the unconditional return of Danzig to the Reich, Herr Hitler and the German Government were not of opinion that the problem was one which could be solved by war...

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41 42

On the contrary, they felt that it was one which was capable of solution by negotiations and that such a solution would, in fact, be reached..

14

The Daily Telegraph," in

a leading article, says it is too soon to assess the signi- ficance of the statement.

It proceeds: "It is not easy to understand how the two views ex- pressed by the spokesman are re- garded, by the German Govern- ment as mutually reconcilable..

If Germany does not want or expect war, over Danzig no. one else has any reason "to want or expect, one either.

Reason Obscure "But, It is she and she alone

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Germany, for her part, is akainst a war-like solution of the problem on the presump- tion that she gets what she wants unconditionally.

Premier's Statement The Times" adds that where

much less adroit is in suggesting. the statement is less direct and that a wedge can be driven be- tween Great Britain and her ally," that the British Government would put pressure on the Poles to give way and that in "fact they would go back on their word. '‚ ̈

In this connection "The Times" who has made of Danzig a pro- recalls the Prime Minister's state- blem threatening the peace of ment In the Commons, in which The news was brought to Hong Europe a problem which Hitler the Government's attitude to the kong yesterday by Chow Pong-lee,

to be non-existent.

In the course of that statement master of trading junk No. T48 declared in February of last year Danzig problem was made clear.

"Another who was conveyed, nere by a Hong-

The reasons for yesterday's Mr. Chamberlain, said: kong police launch In company

in Berlin remain Power established in Danzig could statement with three of his fokis who were obscure. If it means that Ger- block Poland's access to the sea injured by shrapnel:

Two of the fokis, Chan Kai-hong many has decided to initiate and so exert an economie and and Chan Kwan-sing, are seriously Blackening of tension and it is she military stranglehold on her," and injured, while a nine-year-old boy alone who can take the initiative.added "we have guaranteed to the rest of the world awaits the the case of a clear threat to her she con- Leung Cheung, is slightly wounded, then well and good. But on that give our assistance to Poland in

-independence which the All are now in hospital here.

event."

siders it vital to resist with her

on the broad aspects of the Tien- tsin dispute, according to Mr. Cor- dell Full, who added, however, that there was no question of American participation in Tokyo conversations on the Tien- tsin blockade.

JUNK CAPTURED"

Going. Ahead

Chow also related how Japanese "The Times," in its examination national forces, and we are firmly NO ACTUAL AGREEMENT

seamen from a cruiser stopped and of the statement, draws attention resolved to carry out this under-

taking LONDON, July 23 (Router)-The captured his funk on Saturday to the declaration that Germany diplomatic correspondent of the while he was sailing to the Colony is going ahead to get Danzig un-

The vessel was worth $4,000 and compromisingly and uncondition INDIAN STABBED "Sunday Express". says that the

and that they give

An Indian watchman, Karter Prime Minister in the House of the cargo carried, consisting of ally, Commors on Monday will make ittimber. Chinese medicines and notice for the first time officially

that there may be military mea-Bingh, of No. 105 Lockhart Road, clear, that the British Governmen: vegetables, was valued at $8.000.

The Japanese came towards the sures in the future both in Ger- was stabbed in the abdomen whilst bave merely agreed to discuss, in the course of the talks, some of the Junk in a naval pinnace, put the many and in Danzig, but that sleeping on the roof, on Saturday points which the Japanese have Chinese aboard, a sшau poat and these would be of a purely morning. He was attacked by an An unknown Chinese with a penknife. No arrests have been made so raised A

towed them to Tap Mun, Chow defensive character."

Here the aim is quite clearly, to and his party, including the three

lieved to be not serious. launch. No. 2 at Chu Ma Pal. any dimculties on Poland." Injured at Au Tau met police put the onus of responsibility for far. The Indian's condition is be-

An actual agreement has not The statement says that Dryet available,

Dr. Colijn saw Queen Wilhelmina-Britain and the United States been reached on anything except Wohltat returned to Berlin from

have been exchanging information to carry on the talks. London talks yesterday and it is yesterday..