“NO CONQUERING”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 88, 24 January 1938, Page 5

“NO CONQUERING”

JAPANESE AIMS IN CHINA. OPEN DOOR FOR OTHER NATIONS ESSENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT. (United Press Associati'on—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.35 a.in.) TOKIO, January 23. Replying in the Diet to a deputy who criticised Mr Kaya’s failure to encourage exports and ensure the smooth distribution of war material, especially wool, the Premier (Prince Konove) declared that Japan had no intention of conquering China or closing the door to other nations. China’s natural resources would be opened to whatever foreign investments were essential for the development of the country. Prince Konoye added, in 'reply to another deputy, that he would never talk peace to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek again. Japan would declare war if necessary, but the inclusion of Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s Government in future administration wa9 entirely the affair of the Chinese.

CHINESE GUERILLAS DISPERSED.

THREAT TO WUHU DEFEATED. (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) SHANGHAI, January 23, The Japanese claim that they completely dispersed Chinese guerillas, numbering several thousands, who have been harassing Japanese at Pootung. The Japanese also assert that the Chinese threat to Wuhu has been defeated. i •

BRITISH NAVAL LANDING. PROTECTION AT WAI HAI-WEI. (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) HONG-KONG, January 23. H;M.S. Sandwich landed a party to protect British property at "Wei HaiWei where looting is feared following desertion by members of the Chinese peace preservation corps.

SOVIET EMBASSY GUTTED.

SUSPECTED- INCENDIARISM.

(Received This Day, 11 a.m.) HANKOW, January 23

A suspected incendiary fire gutted the Soviet Embassy in the French Concession. The majority of the staff are at Chungking, -where the Ambassador, M. Luganets Orelsky, the first foreign envoy to do so, presented his credentials to President Linsen.

MASS RESISTANCE IN CHINA.

CIVILIANS FOR GUERRILLA TACTICS.

SHANGHAI, January 21

The Shanghai correspondent of the British United Press says that China’s millions are hastily mobilising trained mass resistance. The University of Canton is closing to enable the students to engage in a “missionary” campaign on behalf of the uniformed militia. In addition 200,000 civilians are being trained in guerrilla tactics and nearly 1,000,000 are reported to have enlisted in the Self-defence Corps in Shansi. The province of Hunan is establishing a commission to direct mass training. Guerrilla bands continue to take toll of the Japanese near Taiyuan, the capital of Shansi, and also at Chuensha, east of Shanghai.

THE END FAR DISTANT.

JAPANESE SACRIFICES URGED

TOKIO, January 22

“Far distant is the end of the conflict. It will be a long time before a settlement is reached. Ours is indeed a momentous task,” declared Prince Konoye (Prime Minister of Japan) t when speaking in the Diet and appealing for a dauntless spirit to meet still greater sacrifices and achieve permanent peace in East Asia, based on close co-operation between Japan and Man chukuo.

The Foreign Minister (Mr K. Hirota), making similar utterances, said that the calmness and fairmindedness of Great Britain and America about the Panay and Ladybird incidents had averted the alienation of good feelings. He hoped that the Government and people of Great Britain would comprehend correctly Japan’s position in East Asia, and would co-operate with her in the furtherance of peace and good understanding. Mr Hirota revealed that Japan’s peace terms to China included the establishment of demilitarised zones, the payment of an indemnity, and an economic agreement among China, Japan, and Manchukuo. The Minister for War (General Sugiyania) told the Diet that China originally had 1,500,000 men in the field, half of whom had since been killed or wounded.