GREAT TENSION

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20257, 28 July 1937, Page 7

GREAT TENSION

CHINA REFUSES DEMAND. NATIONALB TO TAKE REFUGE. JAPANESE CONTROL RAILWAYS. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. TIENTSIN, July 27. The Japanese ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of the 37th Division expired as the telegraph and telephone communications were severed. There is no news as to Peking’s reply, but it is believed to be a refusal. The Japanese Legation in Peking has ordered all nationals to take refuge in the Embassy quarters. Japanese soldiers are reported to have arrived at Chong-ping, an • important railway junction north of Peking. They now control all the railways leading to the city.

A message from Toklo says the Japanese Government has Issued a statement saying It has no territorial designs on North China and will not interfere with foreign interests. A SIGNIFICANT MOVE. SPEND NIGHT IN LEGATION. RESULT OF THE ULTIMATUM. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received July 28, 11 a.m.) PEKING, July 27. The British authorities advised nationals to spend the night In the Legation quarter. A message from Tientsin states that the Japanese spokesman explained that it was unlikely that Janan would take action as a result of the ultimatum before to-morrow. SHANGHAI, July 27. Contemporaneously with the TungChow engagement within fifteen miles of the city of Peking ihe Diplomatic Corps has notified the Chinese and Japanese authorities that a protocol formulated after the Boxer rebellion In 1900, which culminated in the siege of the Peking Legations, forbade fighting within twenty miles of ttie capital. The only visible result of this was a further Japanese attack on Peking. The guards at the British and other Legations are standing by with sandbags filled, ready to be rushed to the gates of the legation quarter. A FORCE WIPED OUT. 800 CHINESE KILLED. MEASURES OF SELF-DEFENCE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel, Copyright. (Received July 28, 11 a.m.) TOKIO, July 27. The Minister of War made a statement that the garrisons in North China have decided upon punitive measures of self-defence against Chinese troops. The War Office has decided to take corresponding measures. Reports from Tientsin state that Japanese troops, assisted by military planes, almost wiped out a force of 800 Chinese at Tung-chow who resisted an attempt to disarm them, etaoin o shrdlu cmfwyp HOPES FOR PEACE. BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S PLEA. THE PROTECTION OF NATIONALS. (Omclal Wireless.) (Received Julv 28, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, July 27. In the House of Commons Mr Anthony Eden stated that the Government was continuing to urge both the Japanese and Chinese Governments to seek a peaceful settlement. He understood that similar action had been taken both in Tokio and Nanking hy the United States and French Governments. Mr Eden referred to a report of the possibility of action by Japanese troops at Peking In the city as well as outside, and told the House that he had Instructed the British Charge d’Affalres at Tokio to express the earnest hope that such action would he avoided. He added that local schemes existed for the protection of British subjects. THE JAPANESE POLICY. STOPPING COMMUNIST INVASION. RELATIONS WITH GERMANY. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. TOKIO, July 27. The Foreign Minister, Mr. Hirota, at an extraordinary session of the Diet this morning declared that Japan’s policy in East Asia was directed toward stopping the Communist invasion. Mr. Hirota laid stress on Japan’s close relations with Germany and warned China that unless she co-op-erated with Japan there might be an untoward outbreak at any moment. China, he said, held the key to a setIlenient of the present incident.