EARLIER MESSAGES

Evening Star, Issue 21013, 29 January 1932, Page 8

EARLIER MESSAGES

POSITION AT SHANGHAI SHANGHAI, January 28. The Japanese command formally notified Brigadier-general Fleming, who is in command of the British section of the Shanghai Force, that he intended to take action in respect to the occupation of areas outside the foreign settlement from 7 a.m. to-morrow. The Municipal Council declared a state of emergency at 4 p.m. to-day. Volunteers have been mobilised and foreign military and naval forces are held on restricted liberty. Another message lodged at 12.35 p.m. says: “The tension considerably relaxed to-day following an intimation from the Mayor of Shanghai that the Chinese authorities would agree to the Japanese demands. The Japanese Con-sul-General (Mr Murai) last night delivered an ultimatum to the mayor insisting on a definite reply to the Japanese claims before 6 o’clock to-night, and just before midnight the mayor issued an order suppressing anti-Japan-ese organisations and intimating that he would give a definite reply to the demands to-day. DEMANDS ACCEPTED SHANGHAI, January 28. The reply by the Chinese Mayor of Greater Shanghai to the Japanese ultimatum was delivered at the Japanese Consulate at 2 p.m. It accepts the Japanese demands in full. FURTHER DEMANDS SHANGHAI, January 28. The situation suddenly changed for the worse following tho presentation of new demands by the Japanese, one of which is reported to be that all Chinese troops should be withdrawn fifteen miles from Shanghai., BOMBS THROWN AT CONSULATE SHANGHAI, January 28. Two bombs which were thrown at the Japanese Consulate failed to explode.

Rear-admiral Kahiosawa, commanding the Japanese Fleet, subsequently moored a gunboat alongside a wall of the Consular buildings which abouts the Whangpoo River. He placed a landing party within the grounds. LITTLE DAMAGE DONE. SHANGHAI, January 28. There was a sensation this morning when a bomb exploded against a wall of the, Japanese Consulate with much noise but little damage. The afreet was patrolled by foreign and Japanese police, .hut none of them saw the thrower. The incident is therefore regarded with suspicion as. a possible design to create an impression among the irresponsible Japanese elements. , IN MANCHURIA ACTIVITY AT HARBIN. TOKIO, January 28. Harbin is in a state of siege. Communications have been cut off and martial law has been proclaimed. Chinese regulars from Kirin province are fighting Chinese railway guards. Japanese tanks and troops have been despatched from Changchun for the protection of 7,000 Japanese subjects resident in Harbin. AMERICA'S NOTE TO BRITAIN - LONDON, January 28. The Government is considering a Washington communication concerning the Shanghai situation, which it is understood suggests joint diplomatic action in the crisis. It is regarded in official circles as unlikely that Britain will take the same view as the United States, which, it is understood, fears a Japanese blockade of the Chinese coast, involving complications on the Shanghai International Settlement, in which America identifies her interests with Britain’s. America wonders whether tlris justifies co-operation, and desires a frank statement thereon. , AMERICA'S ATTITUDE NO INDEPENDENT ACTION. WASHINGTON, January 28. (Received January 29, at 10 a.m.) While the United States Government is watching the strife in Shanghai with mounting apprehension, there were indications late to-day that it would refrain from acting by itself to alter the Japanese course of action. AWAITING LONDON'S REPLY The State Department is still waiting for the British reply to inquiries as to how far London is prepared to go in joint Anglo-American action. The British countered with a query how far the United States would go, but Washington simply replied-that it was open to suggestions from London. Pending a definite reply from Britain, officials have kept silent on the general situation, though they plainly considered it alarming.