FAR EAST DISPUTE

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 August 1929, Page 5

FAR EAST DISPUTE

SOVIET REJECTS PROPOSALS.

' (Australian Press Assn.) ' (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

SHANGHAI, August 3. It is reported that Moscow has rejected China’s proposals for a settlement of the Eastern Railway dispute, insisting on compliance with the Soviet’s proposals of July 25, viz., the restoration of the status quo before opening negotiations. Karakhan’s reply to Marshal Chang Jsueh Liang’s overtures declares that China’s attitude “creates a situation fraught with grave possibilities, the entire responsibility for which rests upon the Mukden and Nankin Governments.” It is reported that Tsai Yun Sheny Harbin, Commissioner of Foreign Affairs, has presented several demands to Meeiinikov, the Soviet Consul at Harbin, being preliminary conditions to the opening of formal negotiations. The first that the Eastern Railway be placed under exclusive Chinese control; second, that the Chinese merchant ships, tho crews of which were seized by Soviet gunboats, be immediately released; third, all Soviet employees on the Eastern Railway be controlled by a Chinese Director-Gen-eral of the Eastern Railway; fourth, both countries immediately to halt military activities. In the -meantime China offers to issue a formal declaration, denying support to the White Russian movement.

Diplomatic circles at Nanking believe the opening of formal negotiation between China and Russia in connection with the railway dipute is not likely to take place for several days, basing this view on the belief that the Soviet demands are not acceptable to the Nanking Government. MYSTERIOUS SHOOTING. TOKIO, August 3. A mysterious shooting affray has occurred, involving Chang Sung Chang, a former war lord at Shantung, and now a political refugee at Beppu, the Japanese hot spring. It is reported that he was attacked at midnight in a hotel, and quickly fired a revolver in self defence, wounding his assailant, who is the son of a former Prince of the Manchu Dynatsy. Other occupants are contradictory, and pretend that the affair was an accident. Obviously there is. a concealment of the facts. LATER The <Chinese Prince, victim of the Beppu affray, has uied. The police are investigating the mystery.