CHINESE PUPPET GOVERNMENT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 239, 4 July 1940, Page 10

CHINESE PUPPET GOVERNMENT

Demand For Arrests In Shanghai PERSONS IN FOREIGN AREAS

SHANGHAI, July 2.

The authorities are most concerned over a demand by the head of the puppet Government, Mr. Wang Ching-wei, for the arrest of 84 prominent Chinese residents in the- foreign areas on charges of agitating against the Nanking Government.

There is no doubt that the action is of Japanese origin and is connected with the long-existent Japanese programme to eliminate all Chinese who oppose the Japanese aims.

The Nanking regime has no jurisdiction over the foreign areas and the order is believed to signify impending forceful measures against the settlements or a long-drawn programme of kidnappings and assassinations.

A Manila message states that an Australian freighter has left for Hong Kong carrying 1.800 tons of water instead Of the usual 400 tons, and also additional supplies to enable her to take on between 500 and GOO evacuees, rolls of barbed-wire and hundreds of kegs of nails which could be used for barricades, and other emergency stores for use in the event of a siege of Hong Kong. JAPANESE ADMIRAL Visit To Philippine Islands TOKIO, July 2. Admiral Nomura announced that he will visit Davao, in the Philippine Islands, and Menado, in the Dutch East Indies, “to inquire after the health” of Japanese residents. He will also visit the island of Pelew during a month’s cruise.

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT (British Official Wireless.) (Received July 3, 7 p.m.) RUGBY. July 2. The King has approved the appointment of Major-General E. F. Norton, at present commanding the western district in India, to administer the government of Hong Kong during the absence of Sir Geoffrey Northcote. SYRIA AND LEBANON Britain’s Renewal Of Pledge GENERAL WEYGAND’S VISIT LONDON, July 2.

It is reported from Athens that General Weygand, former Comniander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies, passed through today on his way to Syria. He was last in Syria only a few days ago, and it is believed that his visit then caused the French commander, General Mittelhauser, to change his mind and decide not to light on. This decision led the British Government yesterday to announce that it would, not allow Syria and the Lebanon to fall into hostile hands or to become a base for attacks on Turkey, Irak and Egypt. This declaration, which amounts to a renewal of Britain's pledge to defend those countries if they are attacked, is regarded . here with relief,. though one or two papers think it a pity that it was not given sooner. The British declaration recalls the attitude adopted by the Turkish Government when the prospect of a Franco-German armistice was first announced. It was then stated in Istanbul that Turkey would not permit the installation in Syria of a Power other than France. This attitude is in accord with that assumed by Britain, whose intervention, should it be necessary, would be designed to maintain the present status of Syria as a country under French mandate. The future status of Syria is also a matter of close concern for Irak. The Foreign Minister of Irak arrived at Damascus today from Ankara, where he has been having conversations witli tlie Turkish Government. He is understood to have discussed, among other things, the future status of Syria and the Lebanon should the Axis Powers make any move against that country. He conferred, also, with the British, Turkish, and Irak Consuls in Syria and the Lebanon, and met the former Syrian Premier, the former President of the Chamber, and other Syrian personalities.