SITUATION TENSE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1933, Page 5

SITUATION TENSE

WAR IMMINENT

SERIOUS EASTERN QUESTION.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.!

SHANGHAI, February 17

The seriousness of the situation ii| North ■ China is unsettling the minds of everyone.

The feeling is growing that , the Far East id on the eve of one. of the bloodiest conflicts in history.

The Chinese Government officials refuse to comment on the three pending ultimatums which are expected to be received from Japan. It is expected that these will be delivered as follows: One to General Tangyulin, the Governor of the Chinese Province of Jehol from the Manchukuo republican regime; another to Chang Hsuen Liang, from General Muto, the Japanese Commander-in-Chief; and the third from ..the Tokyo Government direct to the Nanking - Government —all of these demanding the complete withdrawal of the Chinese troops from Manchukuo and giving a time limit.

While not ■ commenting oh the above the Chinese Government officials announce that the invasion of Jehol the Japanese forces will be resisted to the utmost,

The tension is so great in North China, the people fearing an outbreak of fighting at any moment, that thousands are moving south. The .fears of the populace have been increased as the result of the removal of famous Peking treasure valued at many millions sterling. The Chinese now possess a, vast army oustide the Great Wall, which is capable of offering serious resistance. Nothing ,is more remote . .than the compliance of the Chinese with the Japanese ultimatum to withdraw.

SHANGHAI WELCOMES G. B SHAW. ..

“DOWN. WITH IMPERIALISM.”

v SHANGHAI, February 17. Mr George Bernard! Shaw’s recent speech at the Hong Kong . University, in which he commended Communism, aroused the Chinese to frantic enthusiasm on lii's arrival here to-day : Thou-

sands of Chinese assembled at the

pier, and gave him .a great welcome, r and they also distributed handbills containing slogans, of which typical ones were; “'Welcome S'Kaw! “Down l With Imperialism!”. An earlier cable sated: “Bernard Shaw’s speech to Chinese students at Hong Kong University, urging them to steep themselves in Communism, aroused much criticism, It is pointed out that Chinese street orators in the past have been gaoled for preaching Communism, One newspaper says that Mr Shaw’s doctrine is very dangerous when preached to young impressionable students, especially since it is from the extremist element amongst this clas s , that the worst features of China’s social and political unrest ■ have arisen.”

JAPANESE DELEGATES

PREPARE TO LEAVE GENEVA

GENEVA* February 17

The Japanese delegates to the League of Nations, after a long meeting, telegraphed to Tokyo counselling the withdrawal of Japan .from the League. The Japanese delegates have spent the day in clearing their archives in preparation for their departure after the League Assemply meeting next week, and they have already booked their passages. In the meantime they have presented a statement to the League, deploring what they term the Committee of Nineteen’s precipitated and unwarranted action, which, they say, is likely to increase the difficulty of restoring peace in the Far East.

LEAGUE’S REPORT BROADCAST

GENEVA, February 17. The League Committee of Nineteen’s report on the Manchurian . question, comprises fifteen thousand words. It is being broadcast at two o’clock this (Friday) afternoon. It will be the world’s record broadcast exceeding the. fourteen thousand words of the / * Peace Treaty brodcast. / r'