TO END CRISIS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1932, Page 7

TO END CRISIS

INTERNATIONAL ACTION

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

(British Official Wireless.)

(Eeceived 3rd February, 1 p.m.)

KUGBY, 2nd February.

United international action to end the perilous situation which . has developed at Shanghai out of the strained Sino-Japanese relations was taken today. Both a^t Nanking and Tokio simultaneously identic proposals with this in view Were made to the Chinese and Japanese Governments on behalf of Great Britain, the United States, France, ana Italy. At Geneva, on the initiative of Great Britain, a special meeting of the League Council was summoned at: which the Dominions Secretary, Mr. J. H. Thomas, formally brought to.the notice of the Council the gravity of the latest developments in -the situation and read a statement which .the Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, was almost at the same moment making in London to the House of Commons, which reassembled this afternoon. STORY OF EVENTS. The Foreign Secretary stated that hostilities of a very serious nature broke out on the night of 28th January between the Chinese and Japanese at Shanghai. , "The British Government regards these events with grave concern both in the general interests of peace and owing to the proximity of the International Settlement with the consequent danger to the lives and property of British nationals. The Government has made pressing representations, more than once repeated, and urged the Japanese and Chinese Governments and their commanders on the spot to accept the scheme put forward as the result of the British and United States Consuls-General in Shanghai for the establishment of a neutral zone between tho Chinese and Japanese 'forces. This zone would have to be'occupied by troops pf the neutral Powers with forces in. the International. Settlement. Instructions had been given, for British troops to co-operate, if the zone could be established.', 1 Owing to the efforts of the ConsulsGeneral, a truce was arranged on the evening of 29th January, but he regretted to see in the latest Press reports that fighting appeared to have broken out again. The British Government . had further urged upon both Governments with the utmost earnestness "to,do what lies in and upon them to remedy the existing situation.'* INSTRUCTIONS BENT. After mentioning that British reinforcements had been sent to Shanghai and emphasising the close consultation which had been 'maintained and would be continued with other Powers concerned, Sir John Simon referred briefly to the shelling last night at Nanking. He proceeded:—• "I would now add, and this is of great importance, that instructions were sent to His Majesty's Representatives at Tokio and Nanking to deliver this morning to those Governments the following proposals and, Dress strongly for their acceptance,'indicating, that they are being simultaneously urged upon the other party. These proposals have been concerted with the United States Government and the French and Italian Governments were asked to act similarly. I have since received information that these Governments hay« acted in the sense desired. NATURE OF PROPOSALS. The proposals are the cessation of all acts of violence on both sides forthwith on the following terms:— No further mobilisation or preparation whatever for further hostilities. The withdrawal of both Japanese and Chinese combatants from all points of mutual contact in the Shanghai area. The protection of the international settlement by the establishment of neutral zones to divide the combatants. These zones to be policed by neutral reinforcements to be set up by the Consular authorities on the spot. Upon the acceptance of these conditions prompt advances to be made in negotiation to settle all outstanding controversies between the two nations In the spirit of the Pact of Paris and the Resolution of the League of Nations of 9th December without the prior demand of reservations and with the aid of neutral observers or participants." IMMENSE IMPRESSION. In Geneva to-day'a developments created an immense impression. The opening of the Disarmament Conference was postponed for two hours to make way for a special Council meeting, and the. Dominions Secretary's statement was listened to in tense silence. He emphasised the need for immediate action, declaring that the British. Government felt that the pre-

sent_ situation could not be allowed to continue, and pointed out its reaction on the League. After referring to the joint efforts by Britain and the United- States to restore peace, he expressed the hope that other members' of the League would reinforce the proposals which today had been made to the Japanese and Chinese Governments. Mr. Thomas read proposals and afterwards the text of Sir John Simon's statement to the House of Commons. [M. Tardieu, for Trance, and Signor Grandi, for Italy, immediately promised co-operation, and the German delegate also expressed sympathy for the measures adopted. The Japanese representative, Mr. Sato, said that he believed his Government would welcome the proposal to create a neutral zone. The chairman, M. Tardieu, in adjourning the meeting, said that its purpose, which was to associate the Council with the action of Britain Trance, Italy, and the United States' had been attained. Trance's Jand I and naval forces in the Tar East would, he added, be increased. Italy was also sending additional warships and marines to Shanghai.