MORE VIGOROUS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 91, 19 April 1927, Page 7

MORE VIGOROUS.

POWERS' NEXT STEP. United Action Probable Over Nanking. ULTIMATUM HINTED. (By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON", April 18. Official circles state that the British, French, Italian, Japanese and American Ministers at Peking have reached complete agreement as to the next step the respective Governments should take in view of the unsatisfactory reply of Mr. Eugene Chen. Probably the five Powers will now send a joint Note of a more vigorous tone, possibly with a time limit for compliance. A Note would probably have been already dispatched but for the resignation of the Japanese Cabinet. The advent of a Conservative Government is expected at Tokyo, the effect of which would be to stiffen up the Japanese policy in China.

BLOCKADE SUGGESTED. " PERTINAX " FORECASTS. PARIS, April 18. Writing j n the newspaper "Echo de Paris," "Pertinax" predicts that the Powers, in a new Note to the Cantonese Government, are likely to announce an intensive blockade of the Yangtse-kian" River. ° He also forecasts that they will demand the expulsion of Jacob Borodin, Soviet adviser to the Nationalist Government, and his associates, from the maritime provinces.

AMERICA'S ACTION. BELIEVED MODERATION URGED. WASHINGTON, April 18. The State Department yesterday cabled to the United States Minister at Peking, Mr. J. V. A. Mac Murray, and the representatives of the other four Powers u fj e s*' s * on as to whether an ultimatum sJiall be delivered to the Cantonese Government in respect of the Naftking outrages. ° The greatest secrecy is being mainanc' exac t nature of Mr. Mac Murray's instructions will not be known until the Powers have agreed upon an identic policy. It is believed the United States has again urged a more moderate course than advocated by the council of diplomats at Peking, who are in favour of an ultimatum and of the exaction of sanctions.

It is understood there is little chance °J®, United States parting company with the Allies after having co-operate'd o tar, but further exchanges of comunications will be necessary before the imate draft of the document to be sent to the Cantonese Government can De agreed upon.