SPECTRE OF WAR

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 243, 14 October 1931, Page 7

SPECTRE OF WAR

JAPAN AND CHINA.

FEARFUL EXPECTANCY

Economic Blockade of Treaty

Ports Threatened.

CHIANG'S UGLY MOOD.

((]•■ :d P.A.-Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

SHANGHAI, October 13

An economic blockade of the most important Chinese ports by Japan is foreshadowed. Six cruisers, eight destroyers and 14 gunboats' are already in Chinese Avaters, aiid many more are reported to be prepared to leave Japan at a moment's notice. ■: 'The political atmosphere from Canton to Manchuria, especially at Shanghai B nd Nanking, is charged with fearful expectancy, and the situation is regarded is extremely grave. The wealthy Chinese are quitting NanIcing, which it is rumoured the Japanese intend to occupy. It is reported that at Nanking the official archives have already been emptied of important documents. . At Shanghai steps are being quietly but, earnestly taken in preparation for the defence of Chiuese territory.

'„/A remarkable feature of the situation is. the unity displayed among former enemy militarists, who are pledging 'support to the Nankin t Government should the League of Nations fail • China, and ' the country' be forced into war. " The declaration yesterday by the . President, • Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, that he was prepared to bankrupt China for 50 years in order to fight Japan in the event of the League of, Nations' failing to secure peace, coupled with Japan's announcement of its determination not to permit the League to interfere, is not regarded locally as "hot air."; All the signs point to Japan's determination to continue her militaristic programme. ' ;■;•.: Streams of Refugees. Refugees throughout to-day streamed from Nanking to Shanghai, as rumour? of imminent hostilities' spread throughout the capital. Thousands of ilie Chinese residents also evacuated ,the city, seeking shelter in the foreign settlements, and taking with them only their most valuable belongings. .

:', Tie word war is on everybody's lips. Even the Japanese residents outside the settlements moved inward in response to ftn official 'Japanese warning. '- The consensus of opinion in Shanghai is that Japan will ignore whatever decision the League of Nations may reach'and will maintain lier attitude *iiat direct negotiation is the only possible course. • The Japanese Minister to China. Mr. Shigemitsu, has received China's reply, in which ('hint denies the di-'rgcs of fostering the anti-Japaucis movement ftnd blamea Japan for all the difficulties. The British aircraft carrv v has pcot-. jJO-ned her departure from Shanghai. .