SHANGHAI CONTROL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 41, 27 November 1937, Page 7

SHANGHAI CONTROL

f SETTLEMENT APPREHENSIVE. JAPANESE OCCUPATION FEARED SEIZURE OF PONTOON DOCK. ‘JDnked Press Association—Copyright:) (Received This Bay, 9.50 a.m.) SHANGHAI, November 26. Apprehension is growing after persistent unconfirmed rumours that Japan will occupy the entire International Settlement on December 1. The Japanese continue to press on the right and will enter the Settlement from the south of 'Soochow Creek. Troops seized the Pontoon Dock opposite the Bund, used by Messrs Jardine and Matheson, the largest English firm in the Far East, and hoisted the Japanese flag. LATEST JAPANESE AIM. CONTROL OF MARITIME CUSTOMS SHAKING INTERNATIONAL • FINANCE. PEIPING, Nov. 25. The Japanese military leaders are endeavouring to direct action to secure control of the Chinese Maritime Customs administration, which is security for Chinese loans and the Boxer indemnity. If carried out this would shake the whole system of international financing in China. The Chinese Maritime Customs consists of about 1000 Europeans, mostly British subjects, and 8000 Chinese, all under the control of the InspectorGeneral (Sir Frederick Maze). In addition to the collection of dues at the Treaty Ports, this service is responsible for the payment of the indemnities imposed upon China after the Boxer Rising and for foreign loans secured on the Customs. It also manages the Lighthouse Administration, is 'closely associated with conservancy operations, and keeps a small fleet, of cruisers to enforce its regulations.

JAPANESE TO TAKE CONTROL.

POSTAL AND WIRELESS OFFICES

(Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) SHANGHAI, November 26. It is semi-offieially stated that the Japanese will take over the postal and wireless offices to-morrow. Customs appraisers have been assigned duties on the wharves on the south bank of Soochow Creek. BRITAIN’S VIEW OF POSITION. STATEMENT IN THE COMMONS. (Received This. Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON, November 20. Replying to questions in the House of Commons, the Parliamentary Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs (Viscount Cranborne) said he understood that the Municipal Council of the International Settlement at Shanghai was being pressed by the Japanese authorities to take action in matters such as the suspension of broadcasting and other Chinese activities, closing of Chinese Government offices, and removing of officials and suppression of, the Chinese press and imposition of a postal censorship. Britain, had not been consulted as to the course to be pursued by the British member of the Municipal authority. It was not within the Council’s power to , deport, people except by legal process, and he had no information that the Council had. removed any Chinese officials. The authority of the Municipal administration was derived from the land regulations by which powers to' keep order and government of the Settlement were delegated to it by China. ,The precise extent of those powers was a matter for interpretation, which was in the first place the Council’s responsibility. He did not think it would be proper for him to assume such interpretation in advance of the Council. —British Official Wireless. SUPPLIES FOR SHANGHAI. DANGER OF FAMINE. PASSES.

(Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) SHANGHAI, November 26.

The famine danger in Shanghai has been .removed temporarily after boatloads of rice from outports arrived. The inflow of produce from Pootung is feeding hundreds of thousands of pit ably destitute inhabitants who are wholly dependent on charity. The situation continues to be a serious problem. WARNING TO MERCHANTMEN. OBEYING JAPANESE SIGNALS. SHANGHAI, Nov. 25. Mr Herbert Phillips (British ConsulGeneral at Shanghai) warned British merchantmen to reply readily and coireetly to signals from Japanese warships. Britain has agreed that Japanese shall board British ships to verify their nationality.