A GRAVE SITUATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20274, 17 August 1937, Page 7

A GRAVE SITUATION.

FEELINQ OF TENSION. SAFETY OF BRITISH PEOPLE. STRONG PROTEST TO COMBATANTS (Official Wireless.) (Received August 17, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, August 16. The grave situation in China is under constant and anxious review in London, and as a result of a conference field at the Foreign Office it was decided that the very large number of • British nationals, who with 2500 . British Indians number 9000, should be evacuated as soon as possible from ■ Shanghai. Strong representations have been made to the Chinese Government regarding the Chinese bombing from the air of the international settlement, and urgently requesting the cessation of such action. In presenting protests on behalf of his Government regarding the bombing 1 of the flagship Cumberland the British Ambassador stated that though it was doubtless inadvertent it afforded an added illustration of the terrible danger of this air activity. The Chinese' Foreign Minister called on the British Ambassador at Nanking on Saturday morning to express, on behalf of Marshal Chlang Kai-shek, deep regret for the' dropping of bombs on the international settlement, which it was explained was unintentional. To-day’s nows from Shanghai, which Includes the arrival there of the Second Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers from Honkkong, shows no dmlnutlon of the tension. Meantime there Is no relaxation of the efforts on the part of the British Government to remove the present threat to the' safety of Shanghai. Folly of Action. The developments of Saturday and yesterday are deeply regretted by the British Government. On Friday instructions we're sent to Sir H. KnatchbullHugessen, British Ambassador to China, and Mr Dodds, the British Charge d’Affaires in Tokio, to express In the strongest terms to the two Governments the folly of allowing a situation to arise from which their own interests in the great commercial centre of Shanghai, no less than the interests of other Governments, might suffer serious damage, and the necessity of precautions against action by their armed forces which might imperil llie safety of tlie international settlement. The British Government has throughout been in close touch with other interested Governments. It is not expected that warships will be' used for the evacuation of British subjects from Shanghai. Arrangements are being made by the British naval and military authorities on the spot. AIR RAIDS REPULSED. SUCCESS OF THE CHINESEEIGHT JAPANESE PLANES LOST. PEOPLE’S GIFT TO MARSHAL. j United Pross Assn.—Klee. Tel. Copyright. (Received Aug. IT. 3 p.m.) NANKING, Aug. 16. live Japanese aerial raids, only two Japanese, plains gulling through and bombing the city, effeeling slight dam ! Marshal Chi.mg Kai-shek declares licit Japanese planes were j 1 0( I * I.» ii« - s to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek on ' the m-rasion of his :>i»lh brittulay last | November has played a prominent part j in the defence. 1