SINO-RUSSIAN DISPUTE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 733, 5 August 1929, Page 9

SINO -RUSSIAN DISPUTE

SOVIET REJECTS CHINA’S PROPOSALS PRELIMINARY CONDITIONS (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) SHANGHAI, Saturday. It is reported that the Soviet has rejected China’s proposals for a settlement of the dispute about the Chinese Eastern railway. It insists upon compliance with its proposals of July 25, namely, the restoration of the status quo before the opening of negotiations. M. Karakhan’s reply to Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang’s overtures states that China’s attitude has created a situation fraught with grave possibilities and that the entire responsibility for it rests upon the Mukden and Nanking Governments. It is reported that Tsai Yun-shcng, Commissioner of Foreign AfTairs at Harbin, has presented several demands to the Russian Consul at Harbin. These are preliminary conditions to the opening of formal negotiations. They are: (1) That the Eastern Railway shall be placed under exclusive Chinese control. (2) That the crews of Chinese merchant ships seized by Russian gunboats shall be immediately re- i leased. (3) That all the Russian employees on the Eastern Railway shall be transferred elsewhere. (41 That both countries shall immediately halt their military activi ties.

In the meantime China offers to issue a formal declaration denying her support of the White Russian movement. In diplomatic circles at Nanking it is believed that the opening of formal negotiations with Russia is not likely to take place for several days. This view is based on the belief that the Soviet’s demands are not acceptable to the Nanking Government.