FAR EAST CRISIS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 254, 7 August 1937, Page 7

FAR EAST CRISIS

JAPANESE PARLIAMENT’S VIEW. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CHINA. VIOLATION OF HER PLEDGES. (United Press Association —Copyright.* (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) TOKIO, August 6. The House of Representatives passed a resolution urging the Government “to establish lasting peace in East Asia by rejecting China’s anti-Japanese policy, which defies international faith.” The resolution maintained that Japan had adopted a fair, cautious attitude while China had failed to reconsider the situation, had not displayed a conciliatory spirit, had wantonly, violated pledges, committed outrages and pushed on war preparations against Japan, which does not seek territory but co-operation. CHINESE WAR CABINET. COMMUNISTS AND POPULAR FRONT. (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) NANKING, August 6. The Government is organising a War Cabinet, including Communists and members of the Popular Front. A Peiping message states that General Ohangtze Chung (political and mili - tary controller of Peiping) has resigned on the ground of ill-health. His resignation caused termination of the local military activity. IN EVENT OF OFFENSIVE. ’ . JAPANESE PUNITIVE PLANS. TOKIO, August 5. The Minister of War (General (Sugiyama), speaking on the Estimates in a debate in the Diet, said it was doubtful whether the Japanese garrison would be able to maintain its present attitude in the face of the steady advance of Chinese troops to North China. The Japanese were fuUy prepared for punitive measures if the Chinese assumed the offensive. CHINESE BUYING FROM AMERICA IRRITATION IN JAPAN. TOKIO, August 5. The Government, irritated by reports that the Chinese are engaging American pilots and buying American ’planes and shipping, intends pointing out that jt will have an unfavourable! effect on the relations between Japan and the United States AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS. SERVICE IN CHINESE ARMY. NEW YORK, August 5 The correspondent of the United Press Association at Los Angeles learns that 7000 Americans, chiefly former servicemen, including 1000 aviators, have enlisted with Lieut-General Hearn, a former staff officer under Marshal Chang Tso-lin, the former Commander-in-Chief in Manchuria. The volunteers will leave for service with the Chinese Army against the Japanese.

Their activities, of course, will remain a secret, because of the fear the American authorities may interfere, because of the. provisions of che United States neutrality law. JAPANESE TRANSPORT SERVICE. LONDON, August 6. The Bombay correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” reports that the sailings from Japan of four Japanese liners on the Tokio-Bombay service have been cancelled. It is understood that the Japanese Government has chartered the vessels to convey troop 3 and war materials to Ohina. JAPANESE POLICY ATTACKED. “SMASH AND GRAB”. LONDON, August 6. “Once more Japan’s contribution to the stabilisation of Eastern Asia turns out to be a ‘smash and grab,’ ” says “The Times.” \ “She is mistaken if she thinks the actions of the last month, and the punitive policy contemplated, inpressed the world with anything save her irresponsibility. “Japan seems bent on a course which must gravely damage her standing in the eyes of the world.” HOPE OF AVOIDING WAR. BY SURRENDER OF TERRITORY. LONDON, August G. The Shanghai correspondent of the “Times” says military and other official confabulations at Nanking are still proceeding, without result. An important section of opinion clearly favours a compromise, though Japan has left little room for it, as

she has already moved the headquarters of the East Hopei Government to Peiping and is bombing Chinese troop trains hundreds of miles further south. Commercial circles in Shanghai still refuse to believe that war is unavoidable. They admit, however, that the cost of avoiding it may be ruinous, as at least it will mean the surrender of a large slice of Chinese territory. A Peiping message states that a motorised column of 500 vehicles, including tanks and armoured cars, and 1500 men, carried the Japanese flag through Peiping before marching to Tung-chow. Silent and sullen crowds of Chinese watched the victors’ first parade of military power, uliicli the Japanese residents greeted with showers of flowers.