SINKING OF PANAY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 78, 24 December 1937, Page 5

SINKING OF PANAY

-Press Assn, —

New Evidence Discovered by Naval Inquiry REPORTS COMPLETED

(By Telegraph-

Copyright.)

(Received 24, 10.35 a.in.) WASHINGTON Dee. 23. The Seeretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, announced tliat the Govermneiit had 'now received complete reports of the Panay incident and had decided, on the basis of them, to make additional representations to the Japanese GovernjnenT. The representations, whieh will be made through tlie Ambassador at ToMo., upll be in the nature of new evidence supporting tbe previous demands, Tbe complete repoirts include an cfficiai report to tbe Navy office from Lieutenant-Commander Hughes of tbe Panay xegarding tbe loss of the vessel and tbe findings of tbe Naval Court pf Inquiry whicb investigated tbe Panay ginking and took sworn testimony from all witnesses available; also a report to tbe State Department from Mr George Atcbeson, second seeretary^ to tbe American Embassy at Nanking, who was on the Panay at the time of tbe attack, Mr Hull aaid that tbe reports would be published on Friday and the findings of the Court of Inquiry on Saturday. Tbe new faets eontained in the reports would be relayed tp the Ambassador at Tokio as a basis for additional and eontinued representations. Mr Hull indieated tbat tbe additional f&cis developed probably would not ebenge tbe nature pf tbe demands already made. Other interesting develooments m tbe Panay inciiieut to-day were;— First, news from Shauuhai of tbe rornoval of ColoneJ Hashimoto, wbicb is intcrpreted here as evidence that the paner elements in tbe Tokio Governnient may pevbaps achieve the upper Land in tbeir strufitdt with tbe radieajs, in wMcb event adeauate satisfaction and dependable assurance of no repetition will probably be forthcom*Ug. Secondly, tbe Japanese Ambassa dor'a, Mr. Saito 's, daugbters, aged 11 and nine respectively. broadc&st to the nation a wireless message of pe.&ce and gooftwill, nrging children everywhou to devote tbeir lives to make tbe world a suitable place to live in in harmon> and abundance. They spoke witb other youngsters from 19 embassies and legations as p'art of the fifth annnal international children 's party. Tbirdly, Colonel House's statemept that tbe United States must prepare to assume military leadership in tbe nest war, wbicb is already in tbe making. He cailed tbe Brussels Conferenco a partial success, sayine: "The Powots honestly desirous- of peace can under stand more completelv tbe need for u united front and, wbat ia more impor1tant, of a higb command similar to tbat of Marshal Foch if a great war breaka out soon. This command might eventn ally be passod to tbe United States Tbe world loolcs to tbe United Statcs, and we will not fail." Senator Vandenberg, in a speech, eiidorsed President Roosevelt's statement tbat tbe country does not want peace at any price. He onposed tbo Ludlow Amendment for a xefercndum before a declarntion of war, an attitude tbat was supported by Senatoi Pittman, wbo said it would be a "fatal step towaTds tbe destruction of our Hepublic." Tbe New York Evoning Post carrios a heavily beadlined front page anoouncing: "No war is citizena ' cry." Tbe journal says: "The man in the ■treet wants peace, Lawyers, preacners, big mercbants and little shopkeepers want peace. Tbey made this cloar witb a few exceptions in a canvass conducted by the Post. Others said Japan shonld be dealt witb firmlv but wari sbould be avoided at all costs."