CALLED TO ORDER

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 134, 3 December 1929, Page 11

CALLED TO ORDER

RUSSIA AND CHINA

ANGLO-AMERICAN NOTE

ACTION UNDER PEACE PACT

British Official Wireless.

(Eeceived 3rd December, II a.m.)

RUGBY, 2nd December

For the first time since it was signed, action arising out of the Kellogg Pact has been taken. Tho' British Government has co-operated with the United States Government in issuing a joint representation to the Chinese and Soviet Governments in regard to the situation in Manchuria, calling the attention of those Governments to their obligations under tho Pact. The memorandum, which has been communicated to the National Government of China and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Bepublies by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, has been issued for publication, and is in the following terms:—

TEXT OF MEMORANDUM.

"His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom has observed with apprehension and concern tho course of events between China and the Soviet Union with reference to the situation in Northern Manchuria since July. T!he United States Government took steps in July through conversations in Washington' to see that the attention of tho Chinese and Soviet Governments was called to the provisions of the Treaty for Henuuciation of War, ta •which both China and the Soviet Union ■were signatories. His Majesty's Government iv the United Kingdom associated itself with that step. Both the Soviet and Chinese Governments then gave formal and public assurances that neither would resort to war unless attacked.

ATTENTION TO AETICLE 2.

"The Treaty has now been ratified by no fewer than 55 Powers, including China and the Soviet Union. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom associates itself with the action which the United States Government is now taking to call attention to the provisions of the Treaty for the .Renunciation of War, particularly to Article 2, which reads:—

The' high contracting parties agree that the settlement or solution of all disputes or conflicts, of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise among them, shall never he sought except by pacific means

and to express the earnest hope that China and the Soviet Union will refrain or desist from measures o.f hostility and will find it possible in the near future to como to an agreement between themselves upon a method for resolving by peaceful means the issues over which they are at present in controversy. His Majesty's Government m. the United "Kingdom feels that the respect with which China and the Soviet Union will hereafter be heia in the good opinion of the world will necessarily in a great measure depend upon the. way in which they carry out these sacred promises."

1 QUESTIONS IN COMMONS,

The action taken by the British Government was announced in tho House of Commons to-day by the. Foreign Secretary, Mr. Henderson, to whom several questions bearing upon the Chinese situation were addressed. The Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs 'has informed His Majesty's Minister that bow that Chinese territory has been occupied le feels that the matter must go to the League of Nations. In reply to further questions, Mr. Henderson said: "There appears to be reason for believing that an armistice has been arranged. According to a telegram from His Majesty's Consul-General at Mukden the Mukden authorities sent to Moscow on 28th November a telegram accepting the Soviet terms for re-opening negotiations. The Chinese negotiators left Harbin on 30th November for Habarovsk." As far as he knew, neither the Chinese nor Soviet Government had informed any other Government that they considered themselves at war.

REFERENCE TO. LEAGUE,

In reply to the question as to whether the Chinese Government h"ad made an appeal to the League of Nations, he said: "To the best of my belief, the Chinese Government has taken no definite steps to bring the dispute before the League of Nations but on 2Sth November the Chinese Minister informed me that his Government contemplated such an appeal and asked my views. I pointed out the difficulty that arose owing to the Soviet Union not being a member of the League. Twelve bombs were dropped by Soviet aeroplanes on Pokotm Station. These attacks were continued on 29th November. In reports on military operations in Manchuria which I have received mention is made of heavy losses, but I have not the figures of casualties on either side, nor have I any confirmation of Press reports of a massacre of Chinese miners at Chalainor."