REPORTED PEACE MOVE BY JAPANESE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 200, 23 August 1940, Page 7

REPORTED PEACE MOVE BY JAPANESE.

NAMING REGIME.

Resistance Of Chungking Not Affected. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 10 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 22. Shanghai reports, say that the Japanese Army has completed the draft of a peace treaty with the Nanking administration, which will be submitted to Tokyo for approval. The army suddenly concluded negotiations by partially agreeing to the demands of the puppet Government leader, Wang Ching-wei, but compliance will be effective "after cessation of hostilities."

The demands included a date for the Japanese Army's withdrawal, return of the ownership of railways and telegraphs, and other public utilities to Nanking. It is understood that eecret articles are worded to appear lenient, hoping to' facilitate ultimate peace negotiating by the Chiang Kai-shek Government at .Chungking, through Nanking. Foreign authorities are unanimous that the treaty will not affect the continued resistance by Chungking. It is said that the only thing possible to weaken a united war front by Chungking would be evidence that Japan would grant Nanking important internal powers immediately. The treaty provides for a continuance of martial law in Nanking. The American Consulate at Shanghai has made representations to the Japanese Consulate regarding damaged American property at Chungking, where the latest incendiary bombings rendered 40,000 people homeless.

NO DEMANDS KNOWN.

JAPAN AND THAILAND. British Official Wireless. (Reed. 1730 p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 22. The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. R. A. Butler, answering a question in the House of Commons, said that the Foreign Secretary had no information that any Japanese demands have been made to the Government of Thailand, and, in consequence, no communication on that subject had been addressed to that Government by the British Government. The situation in Thailand was being watched.

ONE TON BOMB.

USE BY GERMAN RAIDERS. (Reed. 1.30 p.m.) BERLIN, Aug. 22. The German Air Force is using a bomb of 1000 -kilograms (about one ton), which resembles a torpedo, and probably accounts for the London reports that an aerial torpedo was dropped.

REPORT DENIED.

DIPLOMATIC PURGE. (Reed. 2 p.m.) LONDON", Aug. 22. The Japanese Embassy has denied knowledge from Tokyo of a diplomatic purge. An official spokesman said: "As far as London is concerned, the report is quite untrue and merely a speculation."