POWERS’ EFFORTS FOR PEACE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22304, 19 January 1938, Page 9

POWERS’ EFFORTS FOR PEACE

ALLEGED OVERTURES BY GERMANY TOKYO UNLIKELY TO DIVULGE TERMS (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) HANKOW, January 17. Authoritative circles confirm that Germany has been busy trying to induce Japan to formulate peace terms sufficiently reasonable to ensure China’s acceptance. Concessions hitherto offered have been vitiated by the virtual autonomy Jaoan sought in occupied areas. Official Chinese circles repeat that, in spite of the severance of diplomatic relations, the Government is willing to discuss reasonable peace terms wherein Chinese territorial and political integrity will be paramount. A message from Tokyo states that it is pointed out that Japan does not consider it necessary to divulge her peace terms to other Powers. A message from Peiping says that the Japanese Government’s statement has given a powerful impetus to the movement to replace the provisional Government at Peiping with a formal Government, which will probably be inaugurated in March under General Chin Yunpeng, who was Premier of China in 1919-20. A Tokyo message states that the Government has invoked the munitions and industry mobilisation law to ensure adequate supplies for the forces. AMERICAN OFFICIALS TO CONFER COMMISSIONER LEAVES MANILA FOR SHANGHAI (Received January 18, 11.30 p.m.) MANILA, January 18. Mr Paul V. McNutt, High Commissioner for the Philippine Islands, has left for Shanghai aboard the United States cruiser Augusta to confer with Rear-Admiral Yarnell, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Asiatic fleet. They will discuss the situation m the Far East, after which Mr McNutt will go on to Washington to confer with Mr Roosevelt. PATRIOTIC BODIES UNITE DECISION AT MASS MEETING IN TOKYO (Received January 18, 10 p.m.) TOKYO, January 18. A mass meeting representing 100 patriotic societies resolved to dissolve all political and social organisations in order to create one popular organisation supporting the Imperial cause and realising that national unity is needed to face emergencies. MEN REFUSE TO LOAD SCRAP IRON JAPANESE VESSEL AT SYDNEY (Received January 18, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 18. When the Melbourne Maru arrived from New Zealand this morning to load about 580 tons of scrap iron and lead ingots, 40 odd wharf labourers engaged to load the vessel refused to handle any cargo which was convertible into munitions to be used against the Chinese.