PUPPET OF JAPAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 299, 17 December 1937, Page 7

PUPPET OF JAPAN.

PEKING GOVERNMENT. Several Members Educated At Tokyo. AGED AND BLIND INCLUDED. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, December IC. The Australian Associated Press diplomatic correspondent understands I that authoritative reports from China leave no doubt' that the new Government at Peking is a puppet of Japan. Most members are known to be proJapanese. Several were educated at the Imperial College, Tokyo. Their ages range from GO to 81. One member is 75 and almost blind. "The Times" correspondent at Peking reports that a proclamation has been issued announcing the formation of a new Government, It denounces the Nanking regime for imposing tyrannical measures and allowing the territory of China to be diminished, and declares that the teachings of the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist party) led to the war with Japan.

"The members of the new regime," says the proclamation, "have therefore decided to form a provisional Government for the purpose of restoring the democratic State, and cleansing the country of party dictatorship and Communism. The Government henceforth will assume all foreign obligations."

All the members of the new administration, which has liceu formed under Japanese military pressure, held office in the Peking Government before the rule of Marshal Chang Tso-lin, and individually they command a measure of respect.

Three commissions have been established—executive, judicial and legislative—headed respectively by Wang Keinin, who held various posts under the Republic; Tung Mang, who was Minister of Justice in 1921; and Tang Erh-ho, a former Minister and latterly a member of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council. The regime has received de facto recognition from Japan and seeks the recognition of foreign Powers as the Government of China. Tang Krli-ho describes the Government as that of all parts of China from which the forces of the Kuoniintang have been driven.

The appointments of Japanese advisers have already begun. The new Government is taking over the Chinese Maritime Customs at Tientsin and C'liinwangta, and announces that it will deal fairly with loans. NOTE APPROVED. BRITISH PRESS OPINION. British Official Wireless. (Received 11 a.m.) RUGBY, December 16. Feeling in Britain generally approves the firmly-worded Note of protest delivered by the British Ambassador to the Japanese Government. The Government has agreed to the request of the Opposition for a debate on foreign affairs next Tuesday, when the situation in the Far Kast is expected to figure prominently in the discussion. Commenting on tTie British Note, "The Times" says the mere recital of the circumstances of the attack is a damning indictment of Japanese irresponsibility. There are only two possible deductions to be drawn from this hooliganism. It was either a deliberate attempt to test reactions of the Powers concerned or it must be concluded that, save for the small upper class, no Japanese can be trusted to carry firearms even in the Emperor's service, because he is too ignorant and too irresponsible not to run amok without provocation. The fact that no fewer than 13 apologies have already been proffered to the British and American Governments is sufficient indication of the state of mind of responsible statesmen in Tokyo.

The "Daily Mail" states that the British Note speaks wholly in the name of the British people. Other papers comment on the same lines.

A full text of the British Note was telegraphed to Washington for information of the United States Government before it was handed in at Tokyo.

ATTACKS ON WARSHIPS.

GERMAN PRESS COMMENT.

(Received 2 p.m.) BERLIN, December 16. With a similarity suggestive of official inspiration, three Berlin newspapers suggest that attacks oil foreign warships must be expected if they are in the zone of hostilities. "Boersen Zeitung" says: "Incidents are best avoidable if people observe the elementary lesson of war neutrals and keep away from the.zone of hostilities." "Voelkiseher Beobaciiter"* says: "Does a neutral expect a bloody struggle to cease at any spot # he may happen to turn up."