LAND BLOCKADE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 August 1939, Page 5

LAND BLOCKADE

OF HONG KONG TERRITORY

ANNOUNCED BY JAPANESE.

CUTTING FLOW OF SUPPLIES TO CHIANG KAI-SHEK.

By Telegraph--Press Association—Copyvg , LONDON. August 19. The Japanese military spokesman in Canton today announced Japan's inlenlion of making a land blockade of Hong Kong in order lo prevent supplies from reaching General Chiang Kai-shek.

The British gunboats Moth and Cicada are protecting Kowloon, which the Japanese occupation of Shatautok threatens, and they have been reinforced by a motor torpedo-boat. BY LAND & SEA — * PREVENTING TRADE IN ARMS. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) CANTON, August 20. A Japanese spokesman said the Hong Kong blockade will be both by land and sea, designed lo completely cut off the Chinese trade in arms between Hong Kong and Kwantung. OUTLOOK OBSCURE FUTURE OF DISCUSSIONS UNCERTAIN. ' JAPAN REFUSING TO CHANGE POLICY. LONDON. August 19. The Tokio correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that the future of the negotiations between Britain and Japan is obscure. Official Japanese opinion is that tne next move must come from Britain. Yesterday's statement by Britain regarding discussions on the Chinese silver and national currency questions is not regarded as sufficient cause for Japan to end the talks, but it is declared that if Britain convened me parties to the Nine-Power Treaty Japan would immediately withdraw. The Japanese newspapers emphasise that the policy in China is not being altered, no matter what Britain does. The Prime Minister, Baron Hiranuma, and the Foreign Minister, Mr Arita, conferred at length today on the latest developments. The Minister of War, General Itagaki, has summoned the army leaders. The statement issued in London yesterday commented that during rhe course of the Tokio discussions Britain kept other interested Powers fully informed of the trend of the talks, but the present decision was reached by Britain alone. The Ambassador in Tokio, Sir Robert Craigie, communicated the decision to Mr Kato, the Japanese diplomat. General Sugiyama, in an interview in Tokio, said that he was prepared to consider the return of the Tientsin military delegates to Tokio if Britain showed sincerity regarding the economic demands.

Washington reports that the actingSecretary of State. Mr Sumner Wells, indicated that Britain has the United States's support in rejecting the Japanese demands that Chinese economic questions be included in the Tokio talks. ACCUSED CHINESE TRIAL BEFORE BRITISH COURT SOUGHT. HABEAS CORPUS PROCEEDINGS IN LONDON. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 19. It is expected that the AttorneyGeneral, Sir Donald Somervell, will represent the Foreign Secretary at Court proceedings to open on Tuesday in connection with a summons for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of the four Chinese suspects in Tientsin. Yesterday at the Foreign Office, on behalf of the Foreign Secretary, service of a summons was accepted for the writ of habeas corpus for which Mr Justice Cassels had given leave following the ex parte application in London. The procedure under this ancient British legal safeguard of of the subject is that on the return of the summons the merits of the application are argued and it is then decided whether or not a writ should be issued. A writ, if secured, directs the person having the custody of the prisoners to bring them before a British Court or release them. The application on behalf of the four Chinese was made on the instructions of Miss Margery Fry, Professor Norman Bentwich, former AttorneyGeneral of the Government of Palestine, and Lord Listowel, president of the China Campaign Committee. The refusal of the British Concession authorities in Tientsin to hand over the four Chinese suspects was the original ostensible cause of the blockade of the Concession by the Japanese. Following the establishment of a prima facie case against the four Chinese, Britain directed that a warrant of the Chinese district court should be executed. The present habeas corpus proceedings originated from the announcement of that decision. PUPPET REGIME ESTABLISHED BY JAPANESE IN SOUTH CHINA. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON. August 19. The “Daily Mail's" Hong Kong correspondent says that the Japanese for the first time have moved to establish a puppet regime in South China by swearing in a federated committee in Swatow. which telegraphed to Chungking breaking off relations with General Chiang Kai-Shek’s Government and declaring the autonomy of eastern Kwangtung, bordering Hong Kong. BRITISH PATROL FIRED ON IN SHANGHAI. ONE ATTACKER KILLED & OTHERS WOUNDED. (Received This Dav. 9.35 a.m.) SHANGHAI. August 20. A squad of Japanese-controlled Chinese police fired on a British patrol, commanded by Sergeant Kinloch, who was slightly wounded. He ordered the fire to be returned. One Chinese was killed and three were wounded.