PEKING QUIET

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 261, 31 July 1937, Page 11

PEKING QUIET

Japanese Army Round City EFFORTS FOR PEACE Chinese Withdraw to Changsintien By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. London. July 30. A joint message from British newspaper correspondents at Peking confirms the withdrawal of the defeated Chinese Twenty,-ninth Army <” Changsintien and the 'displacement of the Chinese administration by an emergency government. The UICS ‘ sage adds: “The Japanese army encircles Peking, but it is stated it does not intend to enter the city, which is quiet except for Japanese gun-tire preventing Chinese concentration on Changsintien. At Tokio, the Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. Tatsuo Kawai, stated that in consequence of the Japanese army having established control in the PekingTientsin region the Chinese inhabitants were likely to organise themselves into local peace preservation bodies having contact with the Japanese ana which the Japanese were ready to aid. “In due course,” added Mr. Kawai, “such organisations may well develop into an outonomous administration. Tientsin Shaken. The explosions of the Japanese bombardment shook the whole of Tientsin. The Asiatic Petroleum Company’s plant is reported to have been set on fire. Stray bullets killed 15 persons in the French concession. A Japanese announcement asserts that 2000 Chinese attacked the Japanese concession and were repulsed, losing 300 men. Foreign Consuls are attempting to arrange a truce. Chinese occupied the former Austrian, Belgian and Russian concessions, seized lighters being used for the landing of Japanese troops and supplies, and drank the beer in them. Last night was a night of horror in Tientsin. Large areas of the congested Chinese quarter are still ablaze, luridly lighting up the evening sky. The casualties are not yet known, but they must be very heavy. Indirect damage as a result of intensive Japanese bombing is described as “appalling.” Volunteer fire brigades did their utmost to stem the destruction, but the flames swept through the ramshackle buildings like a bushfire. The situation is now described as quiet. Most of the Chinese are fatalistically accepting the destruction. Many of them remained impassive even while j aeroplanes were raining death from the skies. Meanwhile trained troops of the Nanking Government are approaching Tientsin, and fierce fighting is reported in the vicinity. General Chiang Kai-shek has issued a statement that China is determined to fight to the last man. Defence Works Pulled Down. Contrasling with the virtual state of war in Tientsin, life in Peking lias returned to normal. The defence works ha.ve been pulled down, and few soldiers are in evidence. A committee of equal numbers of Chinese and Japanese has taken over the administration. The next steps are uncertain, but it is stated in Tokio that Japan will not tolerate foreign intervention. The Foreign Minister, Mr. Hirota, told the Diet that England, America and Russia are well aware that Japan intends to seek a settlement on the spot. The Prime Minister, Premier Konoe, declared that Japan not only seeks a local settlement but intends fundamentally to readjust her relationship to China as she desires the territorial integrity of China to be resolved in order to prevent foreign influence dominating her. Newspapers express anxiety regarding Britain’s attitude. ARMISTICE PROPOSED Evacuation of Foreigners (Received July 30, 5.5 p.m.) New York, July 29. The “New York Times” Washington correspondent states it is reliably reported that America and other foreign Governments are endeavouring to negotiate an armistice for four or five days in North China to facilitate the evacuation of foreigners. It is felt the fighting is too intense to depend on tlie Japanese assurances that .cities with foreign quarters will not be bombarded. Senator Key Pittman, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, defending America’s refusal to invoke the Neutrality Act, pointed out it would probably be used by Japan as a pretext for blockading all Chinese ports without the formality of declaring war. SAFETY OF BRITISH SUBJECTS Sheltering at Legation (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, July 29. At the request of the Leader of the Opposition, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, made a statement on tlie Far Eastern situation at the end pt question time in the House of Commons to-day. „ . “According Io my information, sum Mr. Eden, “fighting, accompanied by artillery fire and aerial bombing of varying intensity, continued all day yesterday round Peking, mainly to the south and west, and Japanese aero-, planes were active outside the city. Tlie withdrawal of foreign nationals into the Legation quarter started early In the morning and proceeded satisfactorily all day, though the greater part of the city was barricaded and circulation became increasingly difficult as the day went on. The majority of the British subjects elected to avail themselves of tlie opportunity to shelter in the Legation quarter, and most of them are now billeted in the British Embassy quarters. “General .Sung Cheh-yuan has been asked to issue strict orders to the Chinese military and to the police to ensure the safety of persons and pro-

perty o foreign nationals inside the city. “As I have previously informed the House, on my instructions His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires at Tokio has made representations to the Japanese Government regarding the safety of British subjects in Peking, and as a result I understand the Japanese Government and the local Japanese military authorities have given a certain assurance in this respect. His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires has also emphasised to the Japanese Government the serious nature of the situation and tlie grave dangers inherent in it. I would add that His Majesty’s Government is continuing to maintain close touch at every stage with the United States Government and the other Governments concerned.”

Mr. Eden was asked a number of supplementary questions. He agreed with Mr. Atlee in emphasising the seriousness of the situation, but added that so far as he was aware no Government had asked for reference of the matter to the League of Nations. “As I explained yesterday,” he said, “in view of the special circumstances ard the fact that neither Japan nor the United States is in the League, w e are not prepared ourselves at present to take any initiative in the matter.” Mr. Eden spoke of the extreme regret with which His Majesty’s Government regarded the developments in view of the hopes which it had entertained for an improvement in Far Eastern relations generally and which could not materialise so long as the present conditions continued. GENDARMES REVOLT Chinese Enter Tungchow The following cablegram has been received by the Chinese Consul for New Zealand from Nanking:—• “The gendarmes at Tungebow revolted against Yin Jukeng, and Chinese troops entered the city, the .Taiwanese retreating toward Shiho Stray bullets hiti two American marines when shots were exchanged between Chinese soldiers and Japanese plain clothes men in Morrison Street, at Peiking this afternoon. Japanese reports suggested that Chinese deliberately attacked the Americans, which is ridiculous. “Sadao Miyazaki, the Japanese who was missing from Shanghai, was found by the Chinese authorities in circumstances strongly reminiscent of the Kuramoto ease in 1934. A ferryman picked him up from the Yangtse River near Ciiinkiang, whence he was brought here and delivered to the Japanese authorities. Fearing punishment because lie patronised a house of illfame, Miyazaki left Shanghai alioard a British vessel on July 20. When the ship neared Kiangyin, opposite Cliinkiang, he suddenly discovered he had no money to pay his passage, and he jumped overboard.” MESSAGES FOR PEKING It is announced by the Post am) Telegraph Department that telegraphic messages for Peking will be accepted only at the risk of the senders and such messages will be subject to indefinite delay.