JAPAN’S TERMS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 85, 20 January 1938, Page 5

JAPAN’S TERMS

REQUIREMENTS FOR PEACE.

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IGNORED PROVISIONAL BODY ALONE. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) TOKIO, January 19. The Premier (Prince Konoye) said at a press conference that although Japan had hitherto studied peace terms with the Chinese Central Government as a party to negotiations, henceforth she would not deal with the Central Government. Japan expected the present Provisional Government to grow and was making it a party to the peace talks. Meanwhile Japan would pursue military operations to overthrow the Central Government.

Mr Kazami (chief secretary to the Cabinet) described Japan’s decision to disregard the Central Government as “stronger than a mere declaration of war. If war had been declared it would have had to be against the Chinese people but Japan considered Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s regime no longer represented the people.”

GERMANY’S MEDIATION.

AT WISH OF BOTH PARTIES

(Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) BERLIN, January 19

An official statement admits mediation in the Chinese-Japanese conflict, which had been repeatedly denied. It says action was undertaken in response to the wish of both parties. Germany’s part was confined to forwarding communications from one Government to the other.

“CHINA’S LAST HOPE.”

LONDON, Jan. 18,

The Japanese Foreign Office has issued a statement that the German Ambassador’s tentative peace approaches in December, on which Japan based certain conditions, which China ignored, were China’s last hope to consider her attitude. Japan, though consequently compelled to cease negotiations, was most grateful for the good offices of the German Ambassadors in Tokio and China.

ARMISTICE BEFORE

ATTITUDE OF THE CHINESE.

SHANGHAI,: January 18.

A Hankow message states that the Premier (Dr. H. H. King) declares that the suspension of hostilities is necessary before there can be any negotiations with Japan. The Japanese have begun a strong offensive along; the TientsinJFukow railway north of Nanking. The Chinese admit that the position is critical. Fighting along the Yangtse and Yellow Rivers is proceeding over a snow-sovered countryside. A Chinese offensive is directed toward "VVuhu. Two Japanese warships steamed up-stream and'concentrated a heavy barrage on Chinese flying columns that were harassing the Japanese communications on both fronts.

A Japanese offensive along the Tientsin-Pukow railway captured Chowsien and Mingwang. Japanese bombers, intent on cutting off China’s supplies on the Canton-Hankow railway, dislocated the train service for six days in succession. Thirty thousand Chinese are making a forced march eastwards from the Honan-Shansi border to stem the Japanese attack on (the Shantung front, where it is reported that 400,000 Chinese are massed with the object of preventing the junction of the Japanese north and south armies.

After an application was made by the Japanese military authorities, Brigadier A. P. D. Telfer-Smollett, commander of the British troops in Shanghai, informed them that the withdrawal of British troops manning the western defences cannot be considered while Japanese excesses in the Hpngjao district continue. The Hong-Kong correspondent of “The Times” says that, the Japanese have informed the British Ambassador at Tokio of their intention to keep the road from the border of the new territories from Hong-Kong to Canton, under bombardment. Britons desiring to traverse it must inform the British authorities, who will use their discretion regarding informing the Japanese in specific cases ( but will accept no responsibility. The Cabinet has. decided to recognise the Peiping Provisional Government directly it becomes strong and stable.

The recall of Mr Kawagoe is confirmed by Mr Hsu Shihying, the Chinese Ambassador at Tokio. He will leave for Shanghai on January 20.