HONG KONG AREA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 21 August 1939, Page 5

HONG KONG AREA

JAPANESE ANNOUNCEMENT

CHECKING ARMS TRADE

SOUTH PUPPET REGIME

FACTION AT SWATOW

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.)

(Reed. Aug. 21, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 20

A Canton message stales that the military spokesman there announced Japan’s intention of making a land blockade of Hong Kong in order to prevent supplies reaching Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek.

The Japanese spokesman said that the Hong Kong blockade would be both by land and sea. It was designed completely to cut oil’ the Chinese trade in arms between Hong Kong and Kwantung.

A squad of Japanese-controlled Chinese police in Shanghai to-day fired on a British patrol commanded by Sergeant Kinlock, who was slightly wounded. He ordered the fire to be returned and one Chinese was killed and three were wounded.

The Hong Kong correspondent of the Daily Mail says that the Japanese, for the first time, moved yesterday to establish a puppet regime in South China by swearing in at Swatow a federated committee which telegraphed to Chungking breaking off relations with Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek’s Government and declaring autonomy for eastern Kwangtung bordering Hong Kong. Naval Precautions The British gunboats, Moth and Cicala, which have been protecting Kowloon, which the Japanese occupation of Shatautok threatens, have been reinforced by a motor torpedo boat. The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that the future of the negotiations between Britain and Japan concerning Tientsin is obscure. Official opinion is that the next move must come from Britain, Friday’s statement is .not regarded as sufficient to cause Japan ito end the talks, but it is declared that if Britain convened the parties to .the Nine-Power Treaty, Japan would' immediately withdraw. Japanese newspapers emphasise that the policy in China is not being altered, no matter what Britain does. The Japanese Prime Minister, Baron Hiranuma, and the Foreign Minister, Mr. H. Arita, conferred at length on ithe latest developments, and (the War Minister, General Itagaki, summoned the army leaders.

A message from Washington states that the acting Secretary of State, Mr. Sumner Welles, on Friday indicated that Britain had 'the support of the United States Government in rejecting the Japanese demands that the Chinese economic questions be included in the talks at Tokio between the representatives of Britain and Japan with 'reference to Tientsin.