WAR SPIRIT IN CHINA.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20788, 23 February 1933, Page 9

WAR SPIRIT IN CHINA.

_ « NATION DEEPLY STIRRED. ULTIMATUM FROM JAPAN. TROOPS CONCENTRATING ON JEHOL. (TJHIIXD PRESS ASSOCUTIOK —,*T ELKC'MIIO teleorape—cOptright.) (Received February 22, 10.20 p.m.) PEKING, February 22. Messages from Tokyo, where there is a strict censorship, state that tho Japanese advance may begin at any moment. Passenger traffic between Mukden and Shanhaikwan was suspended from yesterday. A Japanese official message announces that an ultimatum will be delivered some time to-day, demanding the withdrawal of all Chinese troops from Jehol, failing which Japan will be compelled to resort to force to remove the menace which is threatening the peace of Manchukuo. Feverish preparations continue at Nanking and other North China cities, particularly Peking, where hospital depots for the reception of the wounded are in readiness. Civilian organisations are working night and day, preparing the usual war comforts. Thousands of troops are passing through tho city along the single road loading to Jehol, which is being ground to pieces by the continuous stream of motor-lorries carrying supplies, men, camel transports, bullock drays, and heavy guns. These form an endless procession heading for the formidable natural defences of the Jehol mountains. Reassuring messages were broadcast many times during the day. There are also official exhortations to the nation to stand together in China's greatest crisis. Tho newspapers are stirring the people, and arousing an unprecedentedly warlike spirit. Arrangements have been completed in the capital to broadcast the war iiewa. Loud speakers liave been erected at all the main points to enable the people to learn the fortunes of the armies in the North.

WAR ONLY AS LAST RESORT. JAPANESE CLAIM. . (Received February 22, 10.30 p.m.) TOKYO, February 22. The Government to-day is communicating with Marshal Chang Hseuhliang urging compliance with Manchukuo's demand for the withdrawal of the troops at present menacing Jehol, thereby avoiding the necessity for fighting. The communication emphasises that it is not intended to enter upon war with China, but Japan, must carry out her obligations to assist Manchukuo to clear the territory of diß-, turbers of the peace. . There is no danger to Tientsin or Peking regions unless the urgencies of military necessity compel Japaa to follow the battle beyond the Great Wall ii' order to ensure that the disturbing forces will not return.

INTERFERENCE NOT LIKELY. A BRITISH OPINION, (Received February 28, 1.10 a.m.) LONDON, February 22. "The Times" says it would be frankly foolish to imagine that the countries composing the League of Nations are prepared to fight Japan in order to prevent tho Japanese aiid the Manchukuo armiCß from securing the province of Jehol. The Assembly has done its part, and the countries with, interest# m tho Far East must themselves decide wnftt policy is likely to conduce to an early restoration of peaceful conditions. they decide on a policy of waiting, which in many circumstances is wisest course, there is no reason wny they should facilitate hostilities by allowing fresh supplies of arms to reach the belligerents. MEETING OF LEAGUE ASSEMBLY. PRESIDENT REVIEWS ATTEMPTS AT CONCILIATION. i OftlTtSß OfTICIAL * 1 ■ RUGBY, February 21. When the extraordinary assembly of the League of Nations called to deal w«th the Sino-Japanese dispute met at Geneva M. Paul Hymans (Belgium), who presided, reviewed the work or the Committee of Nineteen, which had boon dealing with the problem, and said it was obliged, to its profound < regret, to consider that for their* part it had exhausted all possible efforts at conciliation. . .' The procedure of conciliation, of course, be said, hod not yet been Closed, and could not be formally closed, until the adoption by the Assembly of the report of the Committee of Nineteen*. He hesitated to mate a new appeal with a view to conciliation, for it would be necessary not only that fresh proposals which the assembly could accept should be made, but also tli&t jt should receiye an assurance that the existing situation would not be aggravated, and that fresh operations would not be undertaken. At the same time, as this very grave report was not circulated until last Friday, and as all the governments must be given time to send their instructions to their delegations, he proposed to adjourn the assembly until next Friday, when the discussion of the draft report would begin. Japan's Reply- . ' After the meeting the Japanese circulated a statement of their reasons tor rejecting the draft report of the Committee of Nineteen. This ' statement appeals to thfc | Assembly to think twice before ooming, to any decision. It urges the application of tho principles of the Covenant, J the Nine-Power Treaty, and th« K«!• j logg Pact, in accordance with ref,U- • ties. It declares that nin«-tesrtljß |

the principles of the Lytton report cannot be fulfilled without a strong central government, and objects to the inclusion of America and Russia on the Committee of Negotiation.

ARMS EMBARGO. ACTION BY ONE NATION FUTILE. (ssiTiSß omcuo. wiwsurss.) RUGBY, February" 21. Answering in tlie House of Commons a question regarding the proposal for an embargo on arms exported to Japan or China, the Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, eitcd a phrase used by President Hoover in a recent message to Congress, that "for one nation alone to engage in such prohibitions while other nations continue to supply arms is a futility." Sir John Simon said the matter in its wider aspect involved an international question of complexity, and he could make no further statement at present. | ' JAPAN UNITED. SMALL LABOUR PARTY THE | ONLY OPPOSITION. * TOKYO, February 21. Except Labour, which is numerically negligible, the political parties are united in their support of the Government in the hour of national crisis. To-day a mass meeting of 8000 leading citizens in Tokyo expressed their stern determination to vindicate the eyes of th© world Japan's policy to establish a secure peace m the Far East. SHIPS BOUGHT ONLY FOR SCRAP METAL. ! February 22, 10.80 p.m.) LONDON, February 22. A well-known shipbreaker says that it is absurd to suggest that Japan is buying old ships for war service, &s the "Daily Express'* did yesterday. Becondltionine would be too expensive. The fact is that scrAp metal is obtainable in this way more cheaply tbaa ia other ways in Japan, which is not the only country buying scrap metal. Many ships ate going to Sweden and Italy exery, week.. .■ ■ ' " . . T ■ ■ '"CANADIAN BELIEF. JAPANESE PURCHASES OF OLD - ' : .IRON. ■ OTTAWA, February 91. _ Large Japanese purchase# of old metal in various forms, which were recently shippod from Montreal, arousing interest. The V*UWJ behind the »«nt purcha s ® of seven old vossels is said to be the use of the scrap ir T VanSei messagfe tio&s are under way by Jap*® for th purchase-of a large quantity of equipment stored there since its than® by the Allies for the Russians during the war, and left there when Russia collapsed. Within two months 500 ton# of scrap metal from Vancouver has been sent to Nagasaki. SALE OF MUNITIONS TO JAPAN. BRITISH ACTION CRITICISED. (PKESS ASSOCIiTIOH HSUSGB.MI.) WELLINGTON, February 22Some time ago the, Wellington Education Board suggested to the department that Mr Stanley Baidwin a iamous speech on disarmament should be published in condensed torn m the ''School Journal." To this request the department replied that it thought the Bpeecli wi», more suitable for men arid women than tor children o , at least, for no ono younger than senior secondary school pupils, hold- f mg that it was not wise to .instill tear i into children. . , When this reply was received at todav's meeting of th« Mr 1. '> • McDonald remarked that it was non i sense, when one considered that the I right of entry into schools was j granted to the Navy League and other j similar organisations. _ ; Remarking that he agreed with the department's reply,' Mr T. Forsyth , (chairman) said it was rather iromcai! | that the subject should come up for discussion this mo-rning. "It makes ! Olio feel a little sick," he said, "to read that Great Britain, whila profess- ' ing to lead the world in disarmament, is guilty of supplying arms and munitions to an ally, a member of the League of Nations, too, "who is about to wage war on another member, to learn in fact that she is making a commercial business out of war." '•'ls is realised;" asked another member, "that Auckland is veiling to one of the combatants guns given to her after the last war." A motion was carried by seven vote* to six referring the request hack to the department. \