AT SHANGHAI

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1932, Page 5

AT SHANGHAI

NORMAL CONDITIONS

JAP TROOPS’ WITHDRAWAL

(British Ofjiciul Wireless.)

RUGBY, -March 22

The Japanese Consul-General, last night igsucl a statement summarising tne latest despatches received by Japanese authorities in London. It states that affains in the Shanghai Urea, liaviug now generally, settied down to a more or less normal state, it may be assumed that no further serious crisis l will occur. Accordingly the. Japanese authorities concerned decided to recall home five cruisers, two aircraft carriers and 16 destroyers from the I hire! Japanese fleet'in Chinese waters. On March 20, an order to the above effect accord-

ingly was issued. .Reports from Shanghai state >nrs preliminary agreement between Japanese and Chinese having been reached, arrangements were made for formal negotiations between the respective military leaders on Wednesday morning. It is stated that at this conference a joint Evacuation Committee will define the position to be maintained by the Chinese troops, and the area within which Japanese troops will be withdrawn,

FOREIGN SECRETARY’S

VERSIONS.

Sir J. Simon, in the course of the Foreign Affairs debate, in the Commons, to night, said that many meetings had been held, mostly under tho auspices of Sir Miles Lampson and his colleagues at which the Japanese and Chinese representatives at Shang-

hai had been present, and on Saturday atfernoo.li at two long friendly meetings, an agreed formula covering the three essential points was drawn up, and referred to the two Governments. He had just received news that a further meeting fixed for yesterday for preliminary peace discussions, had closed .satisfactorily, and a formal conference wa,s to take place to morrow. The Japanese Ambassador, this morning had informed him that an order had ‘been given from Tokjo to withdraw the greater part of tho Japanese warships. An order for the withdrawal of some of the Japanese land forces had also been given, and part of these had in fact re-embarked. He had just been informed, that besides the mixed brigade, which had been sent back, the Japanese Eleventh

Division was now re-embarking and should finish doing so to-day. He was v far from saying that this news, _ although .satisfactory and encouraging, was the same thing as having se-

cured a final arrangement, which would he necessary before that part W the Far Eastern trouble terminated. British policy in tlrs matter had been consistent throughout. They had done their utmost with the invaluable assistance on the snot of British dip* lomatic consular representatives, naval and military authorities, to hold the scales fairly in a very difficult controversy and to carry out faithfullv in the principles of the League of Nations in co-operation with other Powers especially interested in Shanghai. The duty of a faithful member of the League was to be available and ready to help to-, carry out the League’s policy, and the United States had joined in endeavouring to promote the essential purposes common to the League and the Paris Pact.

The Far Eastern question was oue in which the League was most likely to be useful as- a mediating force. The part it had played was founded on its position a,s exponent and interpreter of world opinion ,one of the most terrific forces in Nature. r J liose in close touch with proceedings at Geneva during the last few months must be conscious that the existence of the League Powers of a coercive character did not necessarily add in every instance to its effective strength n,<s a mediating force. Some States * might hesitate to join whole hearteci,]y in the declaration of the principle for fear of ultimate liabilities that might come to them in taking action. The truth was that when world opinion was sufficiently strong arid unanimous to pronounce a firm moral code, sanctions would not be needed. While therefore, Brjttin would stand firmly by its obligations, under every article Of the Covenant; he would suggest to those who had .studied this subject that they should keen the coercive and the mediatory functions of the League distinct. It was because the League Assembly’s resolution of * March 11, had affirmed it as against l'm, spirit of the Covenant, that a settlement of Sino-Ja.pnn<wc dispute 'should be sought under stress of mil-

itary pressure, that he was glad to j S ee there had been a considerable 'withdrawal of Japanese forces' from (Shanghai, at the present time. Although sometimes it had to work ■slowly and sometimes disappointed it.s best friends, the League had shown atself in the present situation an invaluable influence on the side of peace.

JS BRITAIN SIDING WITH JAPAN?

* Air Lansburv said it was necessary that the people of Britain, and the Dominions should understand the exact policy Britain was pursuing regarding the Far East. Japan now militarily occupied three Eastern projt>.ces of China and had ret need to honour what the League of Nations

and United States asked her to honour, while China had put her ease wholly in the League’s hands. What did Britain and the League propose ; to do to get Japan out of Manchuria? J There was a feeling outside the House j that Britain would' not he averse to | the events Manchuria, and that the League’s delay was enabling Japan to consolidate her position there. Sir Austen Chamberlain said that harsh words did not help international troubles. We had no quarrel with Japan, our loval war time ally, and though as members of the League we hurl a share in bringing world mural 1 opinion to hear on the present dispute, our only interests in Chinn was trade, .which was mutually beneficial. We were ready to surrender our special 'position there as soon as China would I constitute a Government with sufficient authority to give the same prof-e-Jfion to foreigners as other civilised I Slate- gave. TDK ID, March 0 •». •ft is officinllv stated here that the Japanese expedifinnarv forces in China continue to be withdrawn to Japan j without waiting the outcome of the Shanghai Conferences, but that it is considered necessary to maintain a considerable number of Japanese troops there to safeguard the Foreign Settle- ■ ment. A