GRAVE DEVELOPMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 21745, 13 June 1934, Page 9

GRAVE DEVELOPMENTS

MISSING JAPANESE OFFICIAL WARSHIPS ASSEMBLING AT NANKING Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. KOBE, Juno 12. The gravest developments are threatened as a result of the disappearance of the Vice-consul, Mr Kuramoto, whoso wife says that he was lately being shadowed. The Chinese Government at Nanking is making every effort to clear up the mystery, and is offering a substantial reward. Japanese warships are rapidly assembling at Nanking.

JAPAN'S WARNING GOVERNMENT HELD RESPONSIBLE. SHANGHAI, June 12. (Received June 13, at 10.10 a.m.) Events in connection with the mysterious disappearance of Mr Kuramoto at Nanking took a definite turn to-day when the Consul-General (Mr Suma) called on Wang Ching-Wei, the Foreign Minister, and announced that the Japanese .Government would hold the Chinese Government responsible for the disappearance and all the consequences arising from it. A Tokio message states that the Government is taking no positive steps immediately, giving the Chinese , until June lo to find the missing man. An official communique issued by the Japanese Legation at Nanking points out that three Japanese have mysteriously disappeared in Central China in the past six months. The communique adds that the Japanese Government has reserved the right to make any further demands in this connection. Chinese official circles neither confirm nor deny the reports that Mr Kuramoto was kidnapped and subsequently murdered.

Meanwhile the capital’s entire police and garrison forces have been mobilised for an extensive search. No man hunt in the history of China has aroused sucli interest or produced such anxiety as that that is existing in the capital today.