TRUCE PROPOSAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 268, 24 August 1937, Page 5

TRUCE PROPOSAL

STILL WITHOUT REPLY. THE BRITISH REPRESENTATIONS. INTERVENTION NOT SUGGESTED. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, August 23. The British Government is still without any reply from the Japanese or Chinese Governments to the suggestion made for the restoration of the situation in Shanghai, which, according to to-day’s news telegrams, continues to deteriorate. The reactions to the British proposals in semi-offieial circles in Tokio appear to have been unsympathetic which has caused disappointment hei e. On the Japanese side it has been strongly emphasised that Japan will not tolerate foreign intervention, hut it is pointed out that the British project does not in any sense imply intervention, and is merely a request to both sides to withdraw from the area in which foreign interests are heavily involved. In Nanking, although there has been no official reply, the reaction is understood to have been favourable on the whole, and this fact has been noted with satisfaction. The proposals for a mutually-agreed withdrawal of the forces now in conflict from the Shanghai zone were made with a view to securing the isolation fiom the warlike operations of the International Settlement, where many countries, and Britain in outstanding measure, have very large financial, commercial and industrial interests, ajid where a large foreign population resides. The British authorities are providing protection for their nationals against attack, but so long as hostilities are actively pursued around the Concessions there cajx be no assurance against accidental death or injury. CONCERN IN ENGLAND. MORE PROTECTION NEEDED. LONDON, August 22. The Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain), owing to the gravity of the Shanghai situation, will return to London to-morrow and will confer with Mr Anthony Eden and other members of the Cabinet. They will consider plans to evacuate the entire British civilian population, numbering 9237 from Shanghai. There are sufficient men-of-war and liners in Shanghai harbour to accomplish this. The presence of civilians in the heart of the war zone, seriously embarrasses the naval and military authorities arranging to protect the British Settlement with its £100,000,000 worth of property, from fires, shells and bombs. Satisfactory replies have been received from other nations except Japan to the British proposals to form an international force to protect the Settlement. Mr Chamberlain will report on the situation fully to his Majesty at Balmoral during the next week-end. Hong Kong messages state that 2000 refugees have arrived from Shanghai. All are quartered in private houses and public buildings, some even dwelling in the grandstand on the racecourse. The confusion has ended, but food pi ices are rising, leading to a demand for Government control of food. Hoarding is prevalent. ORDEAL OF APPREHENSION. IN THE SHADOW OF WAR. (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. Shanghai’s ordeal of apprehension continues for the citizens while the opposing Chinese and Japanese forces assemble for a decisive encounter. The authorities have established that it was an air bomb, and not a shell, which caused the havoc in the international settlement in wrecking Sinceres. The Japanese in North 'China, are hurling their forces into a great battle for the Nankow Pass, the Chinese possession of which cuts off the Japanese at Peiping from their Manchukuo army. IN NORTHERN AREAS. JAPANESE MEET SUCCESS. (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. The Tokio correspondent of “The Times” says the Japanese troops’ operations along the Suiyan railway, north-west of Peiping, are now almost successful, and the menace from Kalgan to the Japanese right flank has been averted. Japanese who crossed the Groat Wall occupied Wanclnian, a strategic town 10 miles west of Kalgan, and they hold Nankow.